Women's team Equipe Nürnberger may be able to continue and race in 2010. The UCI extended a deadline to January 15 and the team is hopeful to ensure the paperwork will be in order by then to ensure the financial stability of the team.
Team Manager Alexander Oppelt is optimistic, according to rad-net.de. Some of the co-sponsors and equipment providers will step up their commitments. The riders have also agreed to forgo part of their salary.
This would give Nicole Cooke a chance to race with her new team, that was set to be sponsored by Skyter. But the boat company jumped the ship in December. According to an official press release by Skyter, the reasons were open financial questions from Equipe Nürnberger and the accounting situation.
Oppelt on the other hand accused Skyter of not following through with its commitment and both sides have threatened to sue the other.
German Trixi Worrack already declared to radsportnews.com a few days ago to race for no money or reimbursements. "I will start out doing it this way, but then also look around [for other options]," Worrack said. Worrack started her career with the Equipe in 2003 and is still hopeful a sponsor will materialize.
Nürnberger Altstadt race saved?
The trouble caused by sponsor Nürnberger Versicherung to end its commitment in professional cycling not only impedes the team, but has caused trouble for the Nürnberger Altstadt race. It will unlikely to be a World Cup event this year, although the race is probably saved.
"We have some positive news, we continue to work on this race," Jürgen Thielemann, sports service of the city of Nuremburg, said to rad-net.
The budget so far was 350,000 euro, but the organizers think by not going World Cup, they can shave off about 40 percent of the bill. They hope to also provide the men's race and a "Jedermänner" race for recreational cyclists.
The race goes around Nuremberg's old town, along its famous medieval city walls. In 2010, the race would be held for the 20th time.