According to the Dutch press, classics specialist Juan Antonio Flecha is looking for a change of pace from his current Rabobank team. The Spaniard has been a solid rider in the Spring Classics, notching three top ten finishes in Paris-Roubaix and landing on the podium in the Tour of Flanders in the last couple of years.
But without a concerted effort to develop their focus on the classics, it looks like Rabobank has opened the door for the new British Team Sky to make their play on the man the peloton calls the “Arrow”. Team Sky has promised to be a force in cycling, and said they will bolster their lineup with foreign talent as they focus on cultivating home grown stars.
“I have always felt good on the team. This is the longest I have stayed with a team. I have always had the option to stay with Rabobank. They made a good offer to me for two years,” said Flecha on the Rabobank website. “I am only leaving to find a new challenge.”
No official confirmation has been made of the move, but Flecha is just the sort of rider to bring the team a solid base of experience. Garmin-Slipstream has proven that rider development model having the tactic working well for the American outfit. With mentors like Matt White, Robert Millar, Magnus Backstedt and Julian Dean, the Slipstream team has brought knowledge and confidence to Euro rookies like Tyler Farrar, Martin Maaskant, Danny Pate and Will Frischkorn.
Team Sky has made it clear they would love to have Garmin’s duo of time trail specialist Robert Millar and Tour de France sensation Bradley Wiggins, but both riders have publicly shown their affinity to former professional Jonathan Vaughters team, creating an atmosphere that promote focus, work ethic and a staunch anti-doping stance.