German cycling reborn

Organizers chose a unique location for the first press event of Germany's newest professional cycling team, Team Giant-Alpecin. Journalists were invited to the residence of the French Ambassador Philippe Etienne, near Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. Team boss Iwan Spekenbrink says that it was an obvious choice to link the launch with the home of pro cycling.

"Now is the moment to invest new energy in Germany," Spekenbrink told DW. "We want to make sure that new German talent can have a chance on the World Tour and through our program Talent Days."

"Getting a team license in Germany should give it all a bit more credibility, so that people follow the sport," he added.

The team's timing couldn't have been planned better. On Wednesday the country's national broadcaster ARD also announced that it would return to covering the Tour de France in 2015, after withdrawing from the event in 2012 following numerous doping scandals.

German talent scouting

The new German team has entered into a contract with the German Cycling Federation (the BDR), to help develop young riders. It's something that should help in the long run, says Spekenbrink.

"This way we can get to know the cyclists better and they can get to know us," he said. "This increases our chance of growth."

The money is coming from Alpecin, a shampoo brand produced in Germany, which famously used the line "doping for your hair" in its adverts. It's not really the sort of slogan that you want to have hanging around going into a new cycling project.

"Our slogan 'doping for your hair' is over 10 years old," says Alpecin's Eduard Dörrenberg. "It's an advertizing metaphor, everyone knows that. We see it as being a bit of a warning for the cyclists. They can do whatever they want. Just don't dope - aside from your hair."

The team has got some of Germany's biggest cycling names on board for this coming season. Marcel Kittel, who has won eight stages in the Tour de France has signed up, as has sprint specialist, John Degenkolb.

"I am really pleased," Degenlkolb said in Berlin on Wednesday. "I think we [Kittel and himself] have contributed a lot, but the journey isn't over. We want a lot more."

"We are on the right path to making cycling popular and presentable again," he said.

Improving the image

With a bit of a celebrity presence on hand in Berlin, plus plenty of media, the Team Giant-Alpecin launch was a bit of a flashback to the Team Telekom days of German cycling. Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme was at the opening, as was Brian Cookson, President of cycling's governing body, UCI. German Justice Minister Heiko Maas was also a guest.

But Marcel Kittel made it clear that he didn't want to be compared with Jan Ulrich and co, as he spoke to gathered journalists. In response to a question whether he wanted his team to aim for the same lofty heights of the now defunct Team Telekom he responded, " I think that means having different goals. We just want to go our own way, that should be clear. We want to develop a name for ourselves and not be compared."

Both Kittel and Degenkolb support the new UCI anti-doping rules. According to the regulations, two doping offenses inside the same team within a year would lead to a competitive ban ranging from anywhere between 15 to 45 days. Degenkolb believes there's scope for more: "It's the right direction, but we can put more pressure on too. It could be more aggressively worded."

Either way, the team will soon have opportunity to show their cycling prowess. Kittel will be aiming for more stage wins in the Tour de France, and will soon head to Australia for the Tour Down Under. For new father Degenkolb, competition will begin in the Dubai Tour in February.