Signings of major importance to team’s ProTeam licence aspirations
Following today’s reports that Tony Martin (HTC Highroad) and Levi Leiphemier (RadioShack) are both set to compete with the Omega Pharma – Quick Step team from 2012 onwards, Brian Holm has confirmed the transfers.
The ex-professional worked alongside Martin this year in his role as directeur sportif with HTC Highroad and it was previously confirmed that he was himself moving to the Omega Pharma – Quick Step setup.
“I am glad that Quickstep will have Tony Martin into the team,” he told Sporten.dk, confirming the news. “Leipheimer has had one of his best seasons with a second place finish in the Tour of California , an overall victory in the Tour de Suisse and a fresh first place in the U.S. Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado. He seems like a very likeable rider.”
Both the team and the riders are yet to confirm the news, but that is likely to come very soon.
Martin has been linked to many teams but due to a HTC Highroad rule that no contract changes can be announced until September 1st, he has been tight-lipped about his plans.
Leipheimer has also not discussed his plans for 2012, but he has long been understood to be leaving RadioShack. He has competed under Johan Bruyneel’s guidance for the past five years.
The signature of both riders is of major importance to the team, which needed to secure riders with high ranking points in order to ensure that it is in the running for a UCI ProTeam licence for 2012. Omega Pharma is currently a co-sponsor of the team bearing its name plus that of Lotto, but that setup will split at the end of the season.