Stefan Schumacher signs with CCC Polsat Polkowice

autor: Paweł Gadzała :: 15 października 2014, 12:04@8aldwin

Polish team launches its march towards first division

Stefan Schumacher has signed a one-year contract with Polish ProContinental team CCC Polsat Polkowice.

German rider comes to Polkowice-based team after three years with Christina Watches squad. Danish team is reportedly disbanding at the end of the year and as a result 33-year-old is making a move to 2nd division. Schumacher has been racing in 3rd division since 2010, having previously served a two-year ban for anti-doping rules violation back in 2008.

A time-trial specialist, Schumacher began his career in Telekom in 2002. He then raced for Team Lamonta, Shimano and finally for Gerolstainer (2006-08). His palmares include overall wins in Tour de Pologne and Eneco Tour (2006), victory in Amstel Gold Race (2007) and two stage wins in 2006 Giro d’Italia.

Schumacher tested positive for CERA at 2008 Tour de France and Beijing Olympic Games. He was subsequently handed a two-year ban and was stripped of olympic bronze medal in time trial and two stage victories taken in fights against clock during Grand Boucle. He later admitted to using doping products throughout his career, in an interview with German Spiegel stating that doping was “like a plate of pasta after training”.

WorldTour ambitions

CCC Polsat Polkowice becomes CCC Sprandi Polkowice in 2015, as Russian footwear brand, owned by CCC, comes on board as one of title sponsors. Polsat, Polish television station, will remain team’s partner but its role is still unclear.

With Polish cycling gaining momentum in last two seasons, the team is setting the bar higher every year and is hoping to receive a wild card for Giro d’Italia, even as early as in 2015. Team directeur sportif, Piotr Wadecki, confirmed to rowery.org that the squad will be looking to achieve WorldTour status in coming years – most likely between 2016 and 2018.

Three young riders have already been added to 2015 roster – Polish U23 road race champion Piotr Brożyna will wear orange kit along Michał Paluta and Jakub Kaczmarek. 43-year old Davide Rebellin is also expected to extend his contract, while the team is to announce the signing of Grega Bole in coming days.

Poland’s best team was ranked 6th in 2014 UCI Europe Tour, with Maciej Paterski’s triumph in Uno-X Tour of Norway and Davide Rebellin’s Giro dell’Emilia victory standing out as the most valuable results of the year. Team’s racing calendar featured a couple important races, including Amstel Gold Race, Volta a Catalunya, Tour de Suisse, Tour de Pologne and Bayern Rundfahrt, as well as some of Italian one-day races.