Matt Brammeier and Mark Cavendish await the start in the Tour of Britain
Matt Brammeier may not have been on the start line for the Tour of Beijing this morning because of a visa mix-up, but he still has two assignments for his HTC-Highroad squad before the team folds.
He’ll also be mulling speculation that his close friend, current team mate and new world champion, Mark Cavendish, may be following him from HTC to Omega Pharma-Quickstep next year.
Brammeier told stickybottle that he has two races left on his schedule for the year; Paris Bourges tomorrow, Thursday, and Paris-Tours on Sunday. He will then take just over a month off.
He said while he’s ready for a break after a long hard season, he was determined to put in a good ride in his last two outings for HTC-Highroad before the team’s colours disappear from the peloton.
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“To be honest, I’m ready to hang the wheels up for the year,” he said.
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“The last few weeks always seem to drag on, but I’ve the extra motivation of starting my last two races with the hot favourite and world champion.”
Speculation is now mounting that Cavendish’s long anticipated move to Team Sky may be about to derail.
While his transfer to Sky - run by the same people that run the all-conquering GB team - looked a certainty earlier this year, the lack of any confirmation of that move has put the matter in doubt.
Cavendish’s bagging of the world title – with the aid of the Sky riders and managers – has hugely increased his earning power, a factor that will undoubtedly prolong his contract negotiations.
Speculation had been rife in recent months that Cavendish was about to sign for Omega Pharma-Quickstep and it’s now intensifying in the absence of any announcement on the mooted deal with Sky.
When asked if he was about to be joined by Cavendish at his new team, Brammeier said he was in the dark.
“Regarding where he will ride next year, I haven't a clue. And I guess neither has Cav.”
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