Cav to Quick-Step Quashed

World Road Champion Mark Cavendish will not be riding with the newly-merged Omega Pharma-Lotto/Quick-Step team in the new season, says Quick-Step co-owner Bessel Kok.

The Dutch businessman, who shares ownership of four fifths of the team with Zdenek Bakala, said that while "there have been discussions about his future... both parties mutually agreed not to sign the contract." The cycling rumour mill went into overdrive last week when Sky - the overall favourite as Cav's destination for next year - confirmed that at present they have only an oral contract with the rider and nothing is signed. Cav is known to favour Specialized bikes, whereas Sky have a contract with Pinarello, and is personally sponsored by Nike - which would almost certainly end were he to go to Sky as the team is sponsored by competitor Adidas - leading many to speculate that Quick-Step's decision to ride Specializeds in 2012 was taken in order to accommodate the Manx superstar.

A quote from Omega Pharma manager Patrick Lefevere, in which a recounted comment made by Bernhard Eisel seems to confirm that Cav will go to Sky, suggests that efforts are taking place to iron out the reported difficulties and formulate a satisfactory deal between the rider and the British team.

LeopardTrek deny Radioshack merger rumours

RadioSchleck?

LATEST ON THE MERGER RUMOURS: CLICK HERE

According to various sources on Twitter - including the respected and trusted blogger Inrng - Geox team boss Joxean Fernandez Matxin has revealed a potential merger between LeopardTrek and Radioshack.

There are no further details available yet and it's very much a rumour rather than news, but should it turn out to be true it'll be one of the biggest stories in cycling this year. A merger would result in what to all intents and purposes would be a superteam, combining the talents of Frank and Andy Schleck, Jens Voigt, Jakob Fuglsang, Levi Leipheimer and others from the two very strong teams.

Matxin himself tweets: "A ver q x aqui hay gente muy sabia e informada..!!! Quien me confirma el rumor de la fusion Leoard - Radio Shak..!!!" which translates as: "See q x here, there are people very wise and informed..! Who confirms for me the rumor of a fusion Leopard - Radio Shack!!!"


However, LeopardTrek spokesperson Tim Vanderjeugde has denied that the story has any basis in reality, also scotching rumours that manager Brian Nygaard is leaving the team after failing to find a main sponsor. "Nobody on our team has heard of any merger. Brian Nygaard is still on the payroll here at Leopard Trek and has not taken any decision to leave the team," he told a reporter from the Danish Sporten website. The French l'Equipe newspaper has speculated that money problems would be behind a merger, should the rumours be true. However, Vanderjeude also denies that LeopardTrek are in any sort of financial difficulty - the team's current roster, existing sponsors (including Mercedes Benz) and ongoing relationship with the Wisconsin-based Trek Bicycle Corporation would appear to confirm this as fact.

Whether it proves true or not (and we strongly suspect not), private comments made by both Nygaard and Radioshack's manager Johan Bruyneel following Matxin's decision to reveal the merger would doubtless be interesting to hear.

LATEST ON THE MERGER RUMOURS: CLICK HERE