Joins other HTC Highroad team-mates on Belgian team
After one season with the HTC Highroad team, the Irish road race champion Matt Brammeier has secured another WorldTour contract and will move to the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team in 2012.
The squad, which races this season as Quick Step but will see the addition of one half of the sponsors of the Omega Pharma Lotto team, has confirmed that the rider will compete there for a season.
“Brammeier is a rider the team wants to bet on for the near future,” said general manager Patrick Lefevere. “We’re sure he has everything it takes to cut out a role for himself, first within the team and then during the season in the races for which he’ll line up.
“Matthew is entering an important phase in his career and we think he can even improve in our group.”
The 26 year old has won the Irish road race championship for the past two years, and this season also took the time trial title, completing a rare double.
He outsprinted Garmin-Cervélo’s Dan Martin for the road race gold.
Brammeier is the latest signing from HTC Highroad to head to the team. Brothers Peter and Martin Velits have already signed up, as has Tour de France and Vuelta TT winner Tony Martin, former world TT champ Bert Grabsch and František Rabon. Sylvain Chavanel and Tom Boonen are amongst those from the current team who are staying on board.
The Liverpool-born Irishman will be pleased to secure another WorldTour contract. He rode well in support of the team this season, and also finished second on a stage of the Tour of Austria and was tenth in the Tour of Qatar prologue.