Quick Step rolls out post-Bettini roster
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Jan. 23, 2009
- Updated Jan. 23, 2009 at 8:46 AM EDT
Belgium’s Quick Step team, which lost its top Italian rider Paolo Bettini to retirement, released a 27-strong roster for the 2009 season on Friday.
Bettini may be missing but Quick Step have been strengthened by the arrival of French rider Sylvain Chavenel, one of 11 fresh faces on Patrick Lefevere’s team that picked up 58 wins in 2008.
One rider not among that new intake is German Stefan Shumacher. The former Gerolsteiner leader was set to sign for Quick Step but the move fell through when he was caught out for doping at last year’s Tour de France.
As for Belgian star Tom Boonen, he is hoping to make a more positive impact on the sport than the one he left in 2008 when he was forced to miss the Tour de France after testing positive for the recreational use of cocaine.
The 2005 world champion is targeting success in Milan-San Remo and the sprinting honors in the Tour de France.
“I’ve passed a very good winter, very productive but without pressure” the 28-year-old told a press conference at Courtrai. “With experience I’ve come to know my body better, I know how to reach top form at the right time.”
Chavanel then spelled out his targets for the upcoming season.
“First of all I’m going for victory in the Het Volk, the open race in Belgium, and then Paris-Nice.”
Quick Step for 2009
Carlos Barredo (ESP)Tom Boonen (BEL)
Allan Davis (AUS)
Steven De Jongh (NED)
Stijn Devolder (BEL)
Andy Engels (NED)
Mauro Facci (ITA)
Kevin Hulsmans (BEL)
Sebastien Rosseler (BEL)
Hubert Schwab (SUI)
Kevin Seeldrayers (BEL)
Matteo Tossato (ITA)
Jurgen Van de Walle (BEL)
Kevin Van Impe (BEL)
Wouter Weylandt (BEL)
Maarten Wynants (BEL)
Dario Catalda (ITA)
Sylvain Chavanel (FRA)
Dominique Cornu (BEL)
Dries Devenyns (BEL)
Kevin DeWeert (BEL)
Kurt Hovelijnck (BEL)
Davide Malacarne (ITA)
Jerome Pineau(FRA)
Francesco Reda (ITA)
Thomas Vedel Kvist (DEN)
Marco Velo (ITA)
General manager:
Patrick Lefevere (BEL)
Sporting directors:
Luca Guercilena (ITA)
Wilfried Peeters (BEL)
Rik Van Slycke (BEL)
Davide Bramati (ITA)
Rik Verbrugghe (BEL)
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FILED UNDER: Road