Sponsorship, Suspensions, Wallonie, Tejay and Nibali - News Roundup

MTN-Qhubeka will go by a different name next year. The telecommunications company MTN have decided to end sponsorship at the end of the season. It's widely expected that Dimension Data, who have begun to take an interest in cycling with their tracking of the Tour de France, will fill the void. With their logo, I can hardly begin to imagine what the jersey will look like.

(LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images)

On a similar note, it's been reported that after giving their riders leave to pursue new contracts, Europcar have found a saviour to be announced on Sunday.

Androni-Sidermec have been suspended after Fabio Taborre failed a drugs test. Their second failure in under a month, this has caused the UCI to suspend them for thirty days. To quote the UCI's official statement, "The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that the Disciplinary Commission has decided to suspend the UCI Professional Continental Team Androni Giocattolli-Sidermec for a period of 30 days from 1st to 30 August 2015 in accordance with article 7.12.1 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) providing for a Team Suspension." This regulation has been around since the start of the year, and this is its first application. Androni can appeal the decision, and if upheld the decision will cause them to miss five rather small races, starting with the Ride London-Surrey Classic on August 2.

Alberto Contador has ended his season. He originally intended to finish at the Clasica San Sebastian, after riding the first two Grand Tours of the season, but got a cold, and then a fever, and most likely will not race again until halfway through February.

Vincenzo Nibali will leave Astana after the 2016 season and will probably ride Giro-Olympics-Vuelta next year. The Rio de Janeiro course suits the Sicilian, and he will target it, along with his home Grand Tour. Some say that he will set up his own team.

Tejay Van Garderen will not defend his USA Pro Challenge title. The American has decided to ride the Vuelta a Espana, and will not ride the Colorado race, which he has won twice. The 39 kilometres time trial will suit Van Garderen.

Finally, Niki Terpstra has won the Tour of Wallonie. His solo win on stage one was the foundation of his victory, and he took the GC by 22 seconds from Victor Campanaerts, perhaps helping to cool the rage of VDS owners after he missed the Tour de France.