Fabian Wegmann joins the Garmin-Cervélo squad on a one-year deal. He had switched from a more prominent role at the Gerolsteiner team to a domestique role in the Leopard-Trek outfit. Leopard-Trek and Radio Shack are merging for 2012 and Wegmann opts for the Garmin solution.
He was quite happy to announce the news on his website. "Finally the transfer from Leopard Trek to my new team is sealed. I will wear the jersey of the American team Garmin-Cervélo next year."
Wegmann is looking forward to more responsibility again in the Spring Classics. "At Garmin-Cervélo I will once again have a key role in the Walloon Classics and likely better play out my possibilities as a one-day racer." He is already excited about joining the new team. "I am looking forward to the squad around Jonathan Vaughters," he said.
Not everything will be new for him. "Of course I am happy to meet my new teammates - I am good friends with some of them." Before the work, he heads into the off-season. "Now I will first enjoy the vacation with my family and I will announce my race calendar and my goals for 2012 at a later time."
Wegmann called the last couple of months turbulent. "First the merger from my current Leopard-Trek team and then the news from the German Cycling Federation that I am only nominated as a substitute for the Worlds in Copenhagen." He was very disappointed about that. "Especially about the fact that my abilities did not play a role in the tactics. Well, I have to accept that and look forward."
He hopes that in 2012 he won't be passed over again. "Next year in the Worlds in Valkenburg as well as at the Olympics in London the parcours are better suited to my abilities and so my chances for a start are better than in Copenhagen."
Wegmann was winless in 2011, but had a strong end to the season. He was third in the GP de la Somme, fourth in the GP de Québec, sixth at the Münsterland Giro and tenth at the GP de Montréal. "With the results of the last few weeks I can be quite happy. But unfortunately it wasn't enough for a victory and so for the first time in my career I did not take a win [in a season]. That is a pity but I think I can correct this next year."
Wegmann started his career in 2002 with Gerolsteiner, then spent two years at Milram before his Leopard-Trek year. Garmin-Cervélo will be his fourth team.