25 year old ended two year deal with Skil-Shimano early in hopes of moving up in 2011
Following a rocky season with Skil-Shimano, Norwegian talent, Frederik Wilmann, prematurely ended his two-year deal with the Dutch outfit heading out into the uncertain waters of the transfer market late in the year. A month after the two parties agreed to end his commitment to Skil-Shimano, the rider's agent has confirmed that he is in talks with both Saxo Bank and QuickStep.
The rider, who achieved little over the course of the season, save for some overall top twenty finishes at the Tour de lain (15th), the Tour of Qinghai Lake (18th), the Tour of Turkey (18th), was eager to leave Skil-Shimano by the end of the season, and his team, in turn, was eager to see him go.
In mid-September, when the contract was annulled, Wilmann confessed to procycling.no: "I have simply not enjoyed this year at all, and it goes beyond cycling. I feel I have raced at 80% throughout the year. It has been a boring season.
Considering his weak season, leaving a two year contract behind seemed to be a bold step into the unknown, but it was one that Wilmann was adamant about.
"It will come as a shock for most, but this was a chance I had to take. To throw away another year would be detrimental to my career, and that is not an option to me…I'm taking a chance, but I feel I must take it."
It seems Wilmann had no patience with Skil-Shimano's schedule, which did not include a Grand Tour, and for him, it only included forty race days.
"I am 25 years old, and it's time to race one of the major tours," declared the rider in September.
While Wilmann was a disgruntled employee, Skil-Shimano was not a happy employer.
"Our team aims to develop riders and to support them so that they improve. It's not just the team who must spend time and energy on this though. The riders also need to work. We feel that we did not get 100% commitment from Frederik in our collaboration," said Skil-Shimano team manager, Iwan Spekenbrink.
There has been little news since that brief flurry around Wilmann's exit from Skil-Shimano, until Thursday. Procycling.no notes that the young Norwegian has two ProTeams interested in his signature: Bjarne Riis's Saxo Bank team and QuickStep.
Wilmann's agent, Dries Smets, spoke with Procycling.no: "We are still communicating with a view to find a new employer for Frederik, and that includes the two teams [QuickStep and Saxo Bank] that you mention. There is also interest from other teams."
Smets is confident that Wilmann will find a good home for the 2011 season.
"Frederik has a great potential, but several adverse factors combined for him to have a difficult season. I'm quite sure he will convince if he gets a second chance. He is also very motivated to get back."
The former Joker-Bianchi rider is currently training for the new year on the Canary Islands, waiting to find out if he'll get a chance to make his debut with a ProTeam in 2011.
Wilmann has previously made it clear that it's an all or nothing proposition. "I want to ride on a ProTour team or a professional continental team. It is pro life, or nothing."
It would be an interesting addition if Riis were to sign Wilmann, as Riis recently indicated that Matteo Tossato would be the final signing for Saxo Bank for the 2011 season.