"I am very proud of our team," said T-Mobile Team technical director Luuc Eisenga. "The Tour was anything but easy for us, but I think we can be satisfied with it. The whole team gave its all and did its best."
In an interview with Eurosport.de, he said that the highlights for the team were "the super stage win by Linus Gerdemann and the honour of wearing the yellow jersey. Kim Kirchen's performance with the eighth place in the overall was also great." The low point was the loss of captain Michael Rogers in a crash on the eighth stage.
The announcement of Patrik Sinkewitz's positive doping test for testosterone came during the Tour, even though the test was done at a pre-Tour training camp and unrelated to the race in France. Although the team suspended him after that result was announced, "There is still no decision over Patrik's future," Eisenga said.
The many doping scandals have caused many backers, including T-Mobile, to question their continued sponsorship. The telecommunications giant has said that it would review its participation, with an announcement expected soon as to whether it would honour its contract through 2010. Eisenga didn't know what that decision would be, stating, "we don't have anything new to report, but of course I hope that the sponsor will continue to support us in our fight for a new image."
