By Susan Westemeyer
T-Mobile Team announced Sunday that it has ended its 2007 season with the last stage of the Circuit Franco Belge, after 300 days of racing. "With this decision we follow the spirit of the team ethical code that was discussed in Salzburg in September 2006 and to reinforce our commitment to clean and fair sport," team manager Bob Stapleton said on the team's website, t-mobile-team.com.
The ethical code calls for a one week break for a team after a second positive doping test, beginning with the next ProTour race. Patrik Sinkewitz' positive test during the Tour de France was the first, and Lorenzo Bernucci's positive test which was announced during the Vuelta a España was the second. The next ProTour race after the Vuelta is Paris-Tours, October 14, starting the team's one-week break. The team was originally scheduled to end its season with the Giro di Lombardia on October 20.
The combined men's and women's T-Mobile Teams brought in a total of 66 wins in UCI-ranked races this season. The women ended their season after the World Championships, with a total of 30 wins. Judith Arndt had the most wins of any T-Mobile rider, with 15. Two young sprinters dominated the men's team, with Mark Cavendish winning 11 races and Gerald Ciolek winning eight.
