Thomas Dekker comes back after a two year ban as he joins Chipotle – Cycling News
Thomas Dekker who was suspended until July 1, 2011 for using EPO has now returned to the international scene after facing a two year ban. He was suspended in 2009 as a blood sample from 2007 was re-tested and was found positive for EPO. Dekker has signed
with American development team Chipotle for the coming season.
Dekker always wanted to join team Garmin-Cervelo as he said that it was his goal to come back with Vaughter’s team as he said, “I am not there yet, but I am on the right path. It’s a long path, with tests, commitments and now a place in their second team.
I learned from my mistakes, coming back with a clean team.”
Jonathan Vaughters has pushed Dekker to help Wada with anything they want to know about his past and as per Dekker he will help other cyclists and guide them through their young career. He said that he will explain his story to the cyclists and how he has
suffered and has damaged his career and he believes that it is his responsibility to do so.
His first meeting with Vaughters was at the 2008 Tour de France before Dekker was tested positive. The meeting amongst the two was not fruitful as Dekker ended up signing with Lotto.
He told a well-known cycling website about his return,
“I just want to finish the race good. The Tour of Portugal is a super hard race, I will suffer for sure. But that’s good. I want to make steps in my race condition and I want to enjoy being back racing on such a level. For the rest I just take how it comes.”
German cyclist has now joined the Chipotle team and is ready for the Tour of Portugal as he said that he is exited with his comeback also mentioned that he is a little nervous but in a positive way.
He said that all the process that he has gone through has made him stronger and he has learnt his lessons through the time of two years. He further explained that the time he was out of the cycling scene was really hard as he missed his team and all the
fun and training sessions. Dekker said that he is really glad on his come back and is hopeful about the coming Tour of Portugal.
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