Berlin - Professional cycling in Germany may be coming to an end after the withdrawal of T-Mobile and adidas as team sponsors, Germany's leading sports parliamentarian Peter Danckert said on Wednesday. "If main sponsors like adidas and Telekom quit - and some others have also quit, then more sponsors will be considering this as well. Then of course professional cycling in Germany comes to an end," Danckert told rbb radio.
"The cycling pros, and some officials, have still not recognised the sign of the times. In this respect it was a logical and expected decision."
Germany's other main cycling team sponsor, soft drink makers Gerolsteiner, will end its engagement after the 2008 season.
In addition, the future of the nation's biggest race, the Germany Tour, is uncertain over alleged lacking broadcast interest. State broadcasters ARD and ZDF allegedly only plan to air the Tour de France in the future.
Marketing expert Hartmut Zastrow estimated that cycling's value in sport sponsering has dropped by 100-150 million euros (149-222 million dollars).
"I believe that it won't be possible for years to win sponsors for cycling," said Zastrow, saying that companies listed on the stock exchange would have massive protests from shareholders.
T-Mobile ended its engagement as team sponsor on Tuesday with immediate effect, and adidas also terminated its deal as sponsor of the team run by American Bob Stapleton.
The other team sponsors, Europe's leading bicycle manufacturers Giant and German carmakers Audi, said on Wednesday they were looking into whether they will continue sponsoring the team.
Telekom director and T-Mobile chairman Hamid Akhavan ended a 16- year era on Tuesday, saying: "We have decided to take this step to distance ourselves and the brand T-Mobile from the latest doping confessions in sport and more particularly cycling,"
As recently as August 9, the company - Germany's largest telecommunications provider - had pledged to stick with cycling to the end of its contract in 2010. The deal was reportedly worth some 10 million euros a year.
Stapleton said he intended to continue with the current squad under his own firm High Road Sport. According to the ARD network, he got 25 million euros from Telekom for their immediate withdrawal.
"First of all I am happy that we continue. That's the most important thing. Now we must look ahead," said team rider Linus Gerdemann, who last year wore the yellow jersey of Tour de France leader for one day after a stage win.
The team has been embroiled in doping revelations over the past two years, with 1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich dismissed last year for his alleged implication in a major Spanish doping scandal.
Doctors and former riders including 1996 Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis have admitted to substance abuse in the 1990s when the team was called Telekom.
Patrick Sinkewitz was one of three riders sacked by the team this year in connection with doping.
He has been banned until 2008 after testing positive for testosterone earlier this year. He received less than the regular two-year ban because he agreed to share his doping knowledge with investigating German authorities.
