"It was an unintentional violation" - Movistar explain signing of Michel Hessmann despite turbulent past

Movistar Team has announced that it has signed German cyclist Michel Hessmann for the next two seasons. He won't be able to compete with the team until March 15, once his doping sanction is over. He had belonged to Visma during his 3 seasons as a pro, although he has not raced since he was sanctioned in 2023.

Movistar Team explains its case as follows: "In June 2023, following an episode of contamination, a prohibited substance was detected during a doping control. WADA and the German National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA Germany) agreed with the rider a period of ineligibility of 21 months from the date of the sample collection, for an unintentional violation of German anti-doping regulations. As a result, he will be able to compete with the team as of March 15."

The rider, for his part, is delighted to have the opportunity to return to racing with the Telefonica team once his suspension is over: "Signing for Movistar Team means a lot to me. I'm incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to prove my worth for this team with an unparalleled track record and history in cycling."

He explains the type of cyclist he is and the goals he will have during his stay with the Spanish team: "I think I'm a good all-rounder who fits well in modern cycling, where every race is raced hard from start to finish and I'm still discovering the kind of cyclist I can be, even on the long climbs of the Tour de L'Avenir or the Giro [d'Italia]".

"My goal is to be able to be of help to the team leaders on any terrain and especially in stage races like I did in the Giro and to keep developing as a cyclist so I can also start getting good results for myself." Previously, Hessmann has finished third at the Tour de l'Avenir, despite being a tall and heavy rider in comparison to most climbers. He will return to the sport after a long stint away from competition just as teammate Nairo Quintana did last year.