Das Team Felt mit Jürg Graf, Andreas Kugler und Kashi Leuchs meldet eien prominenten Neuzugang. Die international ausgerichtete Equipe hat für kommendes Jahr auch den Franzosen Miguel Martinez unter Vertrag genommen. Miguel Martinez kehrt damit erneut in den Mountainbikesport zurück.

Der Olympiasieger aus dem Jahr 2000 war zwischenzeitlich wenig erfolgreich in den Strassensport gewechselt, unter anderem dabei auch im Team Phonak. Danach trat der Franzose vom Rennsport zurück, meldete sich im Bikesport zurück, trat von da nach der nicht wie gewünscht erfolgten Rückkehr wieder zurück und kommt nun ein weiteres Mal in den Rennsport zurück – die Katze kann das Mausen nicht lassen.

Martinez hat einen Vierjahresvertrag unterzeichnet und will bei den Olympischen Spielen in London zurück aufs Podest kehren.


Offizielle Pressemitteilung des Team Felt (in sehr originellem Englisch):

It is of little hours ago a new arrival in the FELT-International Team, one of those will light fires of artifice in the world of mountain bike, ready newly to receive in stable plant a its olympic hero.

Today afternoon Miguel Martinez has caught up the agreement for season 2009 and successive three, with the FELT-International Team that will have between its big athletes another great rider in its already splendid team with which the gold olympic medal in Games of Sidney 2000 it has decided to return in the mountain bike, after to have run on road in the last seasons with professionistic team.

The engage of Martinez has become possible after the afterthought of Andrea Tiberi, than also having signed a biennial contract with the FELT-International Team it has then expressed different reason, thus the team manager Antonio Brozzu has preferred to free the athlete in order to carry in team the thirty-two years old french, two times World Champion and winner of the World Cup World in 1997 and 2000.

In 2001 Martinez is passed professionist on road, participating to the Tour de France, not catching up but levels of first slowly also in successive the two seasons; it is then returned to compete in mountain bike in 2004 gaining the “Roc d' Azur”, race that this year has been, after two years from the announcement of its withdrawal, an ulterior beginning of a new career that give 2009 will see, it like laughing of the FELT-International Team.

” Today I have signed an important contract - Martinez has said - the next four years will allow me to concentrate to me on my objective, to participate to Olympic Games of London with the ambition to conquer an other medal.
My season 2008 has been concluded in formidable way, I have concluded 14° the Roc d' Azur to four minuteren from the winner although I did not have a good preparation, today with a sign I have thrown the bases for my future and for my new team.
This has quickly made me a good impression, they are all a lot motivated and me also they have asked to occupy of their young people, of it have a pair that for me is between the best ones to the world”.

“Mig Miniums” also have declared of wanting themselves to insert between the candidates to the World Cup 2009, even if in the first round it will be forced to leave with the last ones of the class and that the next four years with FELT-International Team will be also those which will conclude its fantastic career.