Negotiations start early in the season
Just two days after Liquigas announced a two-year extension for their sponsorship of the cycling team and contract renewals for both Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali, their Czech teammate Roman Kreuziger has again been linked to moving to the Belgian Omega Pharma-Lotto team.
“We are talking again, but we still haven’t come to an agreement,” Kreuziger’s manager told Het Laatste Nieuws.
Last year both Kreuziger and Nibali attempted to leave the Italian team for Omega Pharma and Team Sky respectively. The presence of Ivan Basso and Franco Pellizotti motivated the young talents to search for a team where they could assume a leadership role.
Liqugas wouldn’t allow either rider to break their contract, with Nibali now slated to stay on the team until 2012. Omega Pharma offered to buyout Kreuziger’s contract to help fill the void left by the departure of Cadel Evans, but were unable to seal the deal.
In 2009 the 24 year old won the Tour of Romandie, rode to third place overall in the Tour de Suisse and finished 9th in the Tour de France. So far this season Kreuziger has won the Giro di Sardegna, taken the Best Young Rider competition in Paris-Nice and finished a solid fifth place in the Amstel Gold Race.