Michel Hessmann reported to be in contacts with World Tour team despite having been suspended until March

In an unusual cycling market for Movistar Team, where the team, in the absence of major signings, has prioritized the renewal of several of its most outstanding talents for the future, rumors have emerged that, at the very least, are surprising. Michel Hessmann, officially banned until March 2025, may actually be in the sights of the Spanish team.

According to AS, the team has begun talks with Michel Hessmann. The German Visma - Lease a Bike rider has not competed since the Glasgow 2023 World Championships, when the Dutch team dropped him from their plans after it became known that he tested positive for a diuretic drug in an out-of-competition test back in June (weeks after the Giro d'Italia).

Since the situation became known (on August 16 of that same year), Visma did not hesitate to remove its rider from the team, and he has not been seen on the bike since.

One year later the case has resumed. This Wednesday, August 21, 2024, Visma - Lease a Bike released a statement informing that Hessmann will no longer wear its jersey: "Michel Hessmann will no longer compete for the team," read the Dutch team's official statement bluntly.

"The team suspended the cyclist after a trace amount of chlorthalidone was detected in his urine during an out-of-competition test on June 14, 2023. Both NADA and WADA concluded that it was possible that Hessmann had taken a contaminated medication, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or naproxen. Therefore, the German prosecutor's office dismissed the case," Visma explained in the statement.

A signing that would come to Movistar Team still suspended for doping

In the final part of the statement, Visma also announces that the German rider's sanction will be extended until March 2025 after an agreement was reached: "In June 2024, NADA suspended the cyclist for four months, with retroactive effect of three months, which allowed him to return to action at the end of July. But WADA appealed, after which the cyclist and WADA reached an agreement to remain suspended until March 14, 2025. Michel Hessmann will therefore no longer compete for the team."

This means that, if he were to join Movistar Team, Hessmann would do so with 2.5 months of suspension still to be served - or perhaps, he would be signed from the moment his suspension ends. It would be a controversial move, no doubt. There is still a lot of cycling market ahead, and this will be one of the stories to follow.