Patrik Sinkewitz says cycling has changed in a good way. The rider who has suspended for testosterone doping has returned to the sport and joined the Italian ISD Neri team. The 29-year-old hopes to still achieve some good results in the sport.
Before the start of the final stage in the Tour of Luxembourg, Sinkewitz answered a few questions. "Cycling has changed significantly," he says, according to dpa press agency. "I want to try at least once to achieve something again, before I retire."
Sinkewitz is critical with himself, but says that he, too, has changed. "I have learned from my mistakes, maybe more than others." Sinkewitz says that the cycling federation is headed in the right direction. "I am convinced that the International Cycling Union is doing more in the fight against doping than other federations."
Because of his cooperation with authorities in the doping investigation, there was some feeling that Sinkewitz would not be embraced by the peloton with open arms, but that has not been the case, says Sinkewitz.
He praises his new ISD Neri team. "I feel well here. The organization is fine and the morale is good." The team's manager, Luca Scinto, decided to pick up Sinkewitz, when the German's brief stunt at PSK Whirlpool ended due to the team's financial problems. "Just like [Ivan] Basso or [Alexander] Vinokourov, he deserved a second chance. He is strong and clever. With this combination you can achieve great results."
Scinto and Sinkewitz know each other from riding together at the Mapei team. This also means Sinkewitz is used to how Italian teams are run, something he is quite comfortable with.