Cycling - Kämna also not at the Vuelta - team wants to extend contract
Multiple stage winner Lennard Kämna is unlikely to participate in any Grand Tours this year following his severe fall in the spring. "I don't see Lennard at a three-week tour this year due to missed training and races. I would be happy if we could make an entry again this year," said team manager Ralph Denk of the Red Bull Racing Team to the German Press Agency.
Kämna was not scheduled for the Tour de France, and the last major tour, the Vuelta, was still a possibility in August.
Kämna, who has earned stage wins at the Tour, the Giro d'Italia, and the Vuelta, collided with a car during training in Tenerife in April and sustained a severe thorax trauma with rib fractures and a lung contusion. "Rehabilitation is going well. He is at Red Bull's Performance Center. We hope he can race again in the fall," added Denk.
Kämna's contract is set to expire - Schachmann on the way out?
Independently of the injury, the German team would like to extend Kämna's contract. "He has done a lot for the team. We are aware that Lennard is a racer who could be interesting for other teams. I would be happy if he decides for us. He can see that we are all in and will support him in all rehabilitation measures," said Denk.
The situation is more complicated with two-time German champion Max Schachmann, who has had health issues in recent years and has barely made an impact. "Principally, I have the stance that if a racer has reached this level and is accordingly paid, it is for me essentially not an option to keep him in the team and reduce his salary. We have never done that. It should go forward," explained Denk: "Ideally, Max wins a few races in the next months. Then we can talk about a good contract." He showed at the Giro d'Italia that he might come back.
- Despite the setback, Kämna's exceptional performances in Grand Tours, such as cycling victories in the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta, have not gone unnoticed by his team.
- With the Giro d'Italia approaching in Italy, the focus shifts to Max Schachmann, another professional cyclist from the Red Bull Racing Team, who is aiming to regain his form after dealing with health issues.
- The German Press Agency reported that despite Lennard Kämna's severe injury in the spring, the team is hopeful that he can return to cycling competitions in the fall, potentially participating in smaller races before considering a return to Grand Tours.
- The news about Kämna's injury came as a disappointment to cycling fans in Germany and other parts of Europe, especially considering his talent and past successes in major tours like the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta.
- Ralph Denk highlighted the importance of support for his racers during their rehabilitation, emphasizing that Kämna is an essential member of the team and they hope he chooses to extend his contract, given interest from other professional cycling teams.
- The future of Schachmann in the Red Bull Racing Team remains uncertain, with Denk hinting at the possibility of negotiations for a new contract dependent on his ability to perform well in upcoming races, such as the Giro d'Italia, a testament to the competitiveness of professional cycling in Germany and beyond.
- Despite Kämna's injury and the ongoing discussions about Schachmann's future, the German cycling community remains optimistic about their prospects, with talents like Kämna and Schachmann contributing to the rich history and competitive spirit of the sport in Germany.
