BOULDER — Thomas Dekker, who served a two-year doping ban from 2010-2011, has been promoted to the Team Garmin-Cervelo cycling team from its developmental team.
Dekker was introduced to a packed Boulder Theatre Thursday night during the team’s official 2012 team launch.
Dekker, 27, rode with the Belgium-based Silence-Lotto, in 2009 when he was tested positive for EPO three days before the Tour de France. During his two-year ban, he sent blood samples to Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Team Garmin-Cervelo, and was placed on its developmental team, Chipolte, earlier this season.
“Before he started doping, he was probably the most promising rider of his generation,” Vaughters said. “He was winning pro races when he was 20.”
When Dekker first contacted Vaughters about joining the team in 2008, he admitted doping in 2007. The 2009 positive test was retroactive from a 2007 test.
“This team is 100 percent clean,” Dekker said. “People probably doubt him; ‘Why sign Thomas Dekker? He tested positive.’ But it was a long process. I worked (hard) and he (Vaughters) also worked (hard). For him (Vaughters), it’s much easier not to take me.”
