A popular figure on the European pro cycling scene, and having already played a significant part in the career of Tadej Pogačar, Allan Peiper's planned return to UAE Team Emirates is off after they failed to reach agreement.
Peiper has been undergoing treatment for cancer but as he was in a healthy phase, and able to work again, it emerged in January he would once again join the management staff at UAE Team Emirates in a consultant's role.
The move was announced at the time by the team, generating a lot of positive publicity as Peiper had played a key role in managing Pogačar to Tour success before stepping back last year due to his ill health.
Peiper was to take on a consultant's, or advisory, role on rejoining the team for this season, rather than working as a sports director on races. UAE Team Emirates said in January it was delighted he was returning.
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It added Peiper would work as a ‘race analyst’ which would "see him focus on technical elements, mainly collaborating with the sporting department to strategise and prepare material ahead of key races".
However, now two months on, the deal is off after the two parties could not agree on what the role would be. And because Peiper will soon have to resume treatment, the window for his return to work for the team was always limited.
“We couldn't figure out how we would strategically fulfill my role. Obviously that is a disappointment, but I have to accept this. As we say in English: it takes two to tango. Although I want to emphasize: we are not parting ways with banging doors," he told Het Nieuwsblad.
“I am in a period in which I am doing well physically and mentally given the circumstances. I now have three months until my next check-up. I can be meaningful in that. It's a pity that this little window is also closing now. I have been a team leader for almost twenty years, racing is a large part of my life. I wanted to return, but I have to accept that it is not possible.”
