As he will join the Bora-Hansgrohe team next season, Colombian Sergio Higuita has received from his current formation EF Education-Nippo a contract termination letter after publicly using a bicycle provided by his future employer. .
It is an awkwardness that Sergio Higuita could undoubtedly have been able to avoid. After two and a half seasons with EF Education-Nippo, the 2020 Colombian champion will give a new direction to his career. The native of Medellin has, in fact, signed for the next three seasons with the German team Bora-Hansgrohe. And, very often, who says change of team, says change of equipment. In such a situation, it is not unusual for a team to provide their future rider with a bike in advance so that the latter can make his mark during the offseason. However, the use of this material must remain as discreet as possible given that the rider concerned remains under contract with the team he is preparing to leave, and therefore also linked to his partners. Gold, Sergio Higuita recently took part in the Giro de Rigo, an event created and organized by his compatriot Rigoberto Uran… with the Specialized bike provided by Bora-Hansgrohe and his EF Education-Nippo team jersey.
Unlike WORLDTOUR to other cyclists.@HiguitSergio e @ danifmartinez96 pic.twitter.com/ADtDXSgQZf
— Country of Cycling (@DoCiclismo) November 7, 2021
“A lack of respect” for Higuita according to his team
If the event had not been public, the American team would probably not have reacted. Gold, this was absolutely not the case, with images published on social networks, and Sergio Higuita understood it very quickly. Indeed, the EF Education-Nippo team very quickly sent the Colombian a letter notifying him of the termination of his contract for professional misconduct. ” We recognize that Sergio Higuita needs time to adjust to his new equipment. The runners also regularly ask for permission before using new equipment in team camps and in non-public places, which the team regularly grants, the team said in a statement sent to the specialized site. Cyclingnews. Sergio’s recent decision to publicly ride this bike is a disrespect to the partners who support him today. As a result, the team sent him a contract termination notice. The team led by Jonathan Waughters hope to reach an amicable settlement with Sergio Higuita but it is a working relationship that does not end on the best terms.
