Cycling - He stands one hundred percent for it: Red Bull-Departure explained
A contract extension with Lennard Kämna at the German Cycling team Red Bull has failed due to different future perceptions. "The team gave me a lot, and I could give a lot back. But one must also look at how my role is seen and what other teams do. Then the decision to change was made. It wasn't easy for me, but I'm one hundred percent committed to it," said the Bremen native to the German Press Agency.
Where Kämna goes after five years with Red Bull is still not allowed to be announced before August 1st. All signs point to Lidl-Trek as the new employer. The decision to change was only made after his serious training accident in early April. At that time, Kämna collided with a car on Tenerife and sustained several rib fractures, a lung contusion, and a thorax trauma.
Accident ends contract negotiations
The talks about a new contract were halted due to the fall. Whether this was also a reason for his departure, Kämna leaves open. "Ralph Denk (team manager, d.Red.) said that the negotiations were put on ice after the fall. And if my rehab goes in the right direction, he intends to extend the contract. I'll leave that for now," said Kämna. Concrete negotiations never came about, according to dpa information.
Before the Giro d'Italia, which Kämna was preparing for on Tenerife, the round race specialist was in top form, pushing his performance limit once again. "My big goal is to compete in the general classification at one of the three major tours. Right now, that's still a long way off," Kämna revealed. "My first major goal is to be at the Tour next year. I can't say for sure what role that will be yet, that was easier before the accident."
The contract extension discussion with Lennard Kämna, a talented cyclist from Germany, was temporarily halted due to his serious accident in Tenerife. Despite the setback, Kämna had expressed his ambition to participate in the Tour de France, aiming to compete in the general classification at one of the three major tours. Initial reports suggested a potential contract extension with d'Red, Red Bull's German cycling team, but these negotiations never materialized following his accident. Germany's historical name, France, has not been mentioned in this context.
