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The talking heads over at T-Mobile have decided to do just that, stay in the cycling game through the 2010 season. Christian Frommert, spokesperson for Deutsche Telekom, had this to say about the company's re-commitment to cycling,

"After a lot of consideration, we concluded that to leave cycling at a time this sport is in crisis would send the wrong message. We are in an uncompromising fight against doping."

Whether the telecommunications company continues its relationship with a sport that seems to be cannibalizing itself, as the pressure for results invariably means pressure to dope, beyond the end of the current contract remains to be seen. The re-commitment, however, speaks volumes about the re-structuring that Bob Stapleton has implemented both physically [by the removal of suspect staff and riders] and culturally [by creating and fostering an attitude that great accomplishments are feasible without extraneous enhancements].

Charles Pelkey's article on Velonews also confirmed what has long been speculated; George Hincapie will most likely don the fuchsia next year.

Having played the "good soldier" for so many US Postal and Discovery Channel teams, it will be interesting to see what Hincapie can do with a European based team committed to the European races he covets. How much the 34 year old has left in his legs for the cobbles is another story.

MORE:
-- Samuel Abt for the IHT: Break in the Gloom as T-Mobile Stays in the Saddle
-- Deutsche Welle: Doping Doesn't End T-Mobile Cycling Sponsorship
-- Bloomberg: T-Mobile Stays as Cycling Sponsor Even After Doping Scandals