After finishing what was a difficult and unlucky Tour de France, Team Barloworld is now focused on success in the second half of the season and is busy planning for 2009. Although many riders and teams are currently deciding their plans for the future, team manager Claudio Corti was annoyed to read in the press that Enrico Gasparotto had reached an agreement with Team Lampre for 2009.

“In life and in cycling you have to follow the rules and ideas of respectful behavior. There’s a rule in cycling that new contracts for the following season can’t be publicly announced before September 1: this clause exists to protect the plans of teams and sponsors,” Corti told Roadcycling.com.

“We were unable to reach an agreement with Gasparotto for several reasons and each has decided to go their own way. However I at least expected both he and his future team to respect the rules. Gasparotto is still under contract with Team Barloworld and faces a busy and very intense three months of racing. What has happened has penalized the team that gave him the best possible conditions to emerge and be successful.”

Claudio Corti.

Despite what has happened, Corti is looking to the future: “We’re working hard for 2009 and will continue to follow our principles of developing talented young riders and relaunching riders who have been forgotten. That’s what we did with Gasparotto, even if some people seem to have a short memory.” Here at Roadcycling.com we're all wondering who he referring to? :-) You just can't trust Italians some might add ;-)