The eleven riders of the continental team and triathlete Dirk Bockel were presented today to the press at an event in Garage Losch in Luxembourg.
“Leopard SA, the managing company that also holds the WorldTour licence of the RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK team, has a strong belief in Luxembourgish cycling and wanted to invest in it by obtaining a continental licence as well,” says Flavio Becca. “With this young team we are able to structurally search for talent and provide experience and training to young and promising athletes, not only from Luxembourg but also from other countries.”
“The LEOPARD TREK continental team started off as a spontaneous idea at the table where RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK was restructured and rebranded,” continued General Manager Johan Bruyneel. “Very soon, however, we were convinced that the creation of a development team on the continental level was the ideal way to search for talented young riders and coach them so that one day maybe they can be part of the ProTeam.”
“The team roster is built up around eleven riders, coming from seven different countries,” says Director Adriano Baffi. “The majority of them are still U23 riders, so this is really a project for the future. With Bob Jungels, Alexandr Pliuschin and Giorgio Brambilla we have three absolutely bright prospects to lead the team on the road. Our goal is for the 2012 season to be an ideal learning experience for each one of the riders. I am really excited to see them grow in terms of endurance and experience.”
“Today was a very exciting day,” says Bob Jungels. “This team is a beautiful project and it’s amazing to work with such fine staff and equipment. I’m confident that we will obtain some good results over the season. I am one of the leaders of this team, of course, but our mail goal for this season is to get race experience.”
Triathlon
“By adding Dirk Bockel, one of the world’s best triathletes, to the roster of the team, we take on a very inspiring challenge. The crossover between cycling and triathlon will be fascinating for all parties, with bike technology as the common factor,” says Bruyneel.
Dirk Bockel, currently ranked 5th in the world in Ironman triathlon, has placed in the top ten each time he has raced in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, beginning with his successful debut at the Bejiing Olympics in 2008, where he raced for his home country of Luxembourg.
Bockel, 35 years old, will start his season at the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon on March 3, where he placed 2nd and 3rd the past two years. “Abu Dhabi is the first goal of my season,” says Bockel. “The race is said to have the second hardest field of the year, with all the big names participating. It’s really a race where you don’t hold back. I’m hoping to improve on my past results there, so that means going for the win.”
“This team is a beautiful project and it’s amazing to work with such fine staff and equipment. I’m confident that we will obtain some good results over the season. I am one of the leaders of this team, of course, but our mail goal for this season is to get race experience.”
Sponsors
At the team presentation LEOPARD TREK also announced its main sponsors for the 2012 season.
Title sponsor Trek Bicycle is a trusted partner since the birth of the 2011 LEOPARD TREK team. As the official equipment supplier and advisor of LEOPARD TREK, Trek is not only responsible for supplying all team cycling equipment, but also serves as day-to-day technical advisors, integrated into the foundation of the team.
Trek Bicycle Vice-President Joe Vadeboncoeur : “Trek is not resting on its past victories. Rather we remain one of the most forward thinking and innovative bike brands around. We are excited to collaborate with LEOPARD TREK and see the team not only invest in young riders, but also develop into supporting triathlon, a sport that is already important for Trek.”
A new sponsor to the team is AuchanDrive. The brand offers a shopping solution that is practical, modern and rapid. This innovative concept allows customers to save time in their everyday life, by doing their purchases from their home in just a few clicks. François Remy of AuchanDrive: “Today we are happy to announce the partnership between AuchanDrive and LEOPARD TREK. Both the team and our brand are young and dynamic and always looking for performance and firmly orientated towards the future.”
The team is also very happy to announce it has reached a sponsorship agreement with Skoda, who will provide the team with race cars. “With a history steeped in cycling heritage and a brand synonymous with energy and adventure, supporting cycling events and teams has been a basic pillar of our sponsorship,” says Skoda Marketing Communications Manager Thierry Limpach. “Since 2005 we are the main partner of the Tour du Luxembourg. Moreover we are the official partner and car supplier of the Fédération du Sport Cycliste Luxembourgeois (FSCL). Today we are very excited about our association with LEOPARD TREK to further root our commitment to cycling in Luxembourg.”
Besides these two new co-sponsors, LEOPARD TREK has renewed its sponsorship agreements with Enovos and Northwave, essential and estimated technical partners for the team.
Like Trek, Northwave is a trusted value in the LEOPARD family. As any cyclist would tell you, the contact points between an athlete and his bike are extremely important and, among them, cyclist’s shoes are for sure the most crucial for comfort and stability of the feet. With this in mind, LEOPARD TREK and Northwave joined forces to provide the team with the most comfortable shoe in the peloton, without any compromise to performance. Built with a unique wood intersole to prevent the vibrations transmitted by the pedal and isolate from sole overheating, Northwave’s Evolution shoes provide an amazing stiffness combined with a catchy Italian design.
Enovos, last but certainly not least, sees its partnership with LEOPARD TREK as a union of like minds. Enovos Group, the parent company consisting of Enovos Luxembourg and its Luxembourgish sales companies Leo, NordENERGIE and Steinergy, is the main energy supplier in Luxembourg, but is also active on the German, French and Belgian energy market. Marketing manager Patrick Johanns: “Both Enovos and the continental team are young, vibrant teams full of energy, enjoying challenges and always striving for the top position. The Enovos motto: “Energy for today. Caring for tomorrow.” places a great deal of emphasis on the future, as does the LEOPARD TREK cycling team.”
Please contact the LEOPARD TREK Press Officer for more information: Tim Vanderjeugd +352 691 773 408
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