Rabobank renews with eight riders – looking for new signings
Megan Guarnier will join the Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team in 2014, after one year at Rabobank-Liv/Giant, the Dutch team has announced. The former US champion, who won the Giro della Toscana in 2011, and the Redlands Classic in 2012, should get plenty of opportunities to ride for herself at her new team, having spent much of 2013 in the service of World and Olympic champion Marianne Vos.
“I think Megan is a great addition to our team, because she can do well in the Classics, but also cycle in a league stage race,” said directeur sportif Danny Stam. “I think the fact that while working for Marianne Vos, she came in fifteenth in the Giro Rosa, gives you some idea of her potential. She will be given every opportunity here at the Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team to go for her own glory in that kind of race. We are confident that she will bring our team a higher profile in stage races and a broader footing in the Classics.”
Guarnier will be joined at Boels-Dolmans by new signings Katarzyna Pawlowska from GSD Gestion-Kallisto, Luxembourg champion Christine Majerus from Sengers Ladies and Janneke Ensing, who rejoins the team after a year riding at the smaller Ronald McDonald Huis Groningen team.
Many of the team’s 2013 roster will remain intact, with the notable exception of Adrie Visser. The 29-year-old Dutch rouleur, whose victories include the 2007 Ronde van Drenthe World Cup, the 2011 Energiewacht Toer and the 2012 Le Samyn, announced her retirement from the sport this week, which will take effect after the Sunday’s World team time trial championship.
Meanwhile, Guarnier’s current team, Rabobank-Liv/Giant has renewed the contracts of eight of its current squad, with Vos, Dutch champion Lucinda Brand and French multi-discipline rider Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt extending for two more years, and Annemiek van Vleuten, Iris Slappendel, Roxane Knetemann, Thalita de Jong and Sabrina Stultiëns all re-signing for one year.
Along with Guarnier, Rebecca Talen and Belgian champion Liesbet de Vocht will leave the team on January 1st, while Sanne van Paassen will quit on March 1st, at the end of the cyclocross season.
The World’s number one team is looking for two or three more riders to complete its roster for next season.
“We are talking to a few candidates,” said directeur sportif Koos Moerenhout. “Riders who, in my opinion, will fit well in our team; we always look to the collective. The backbone of our team for 2014 is now set, with a good mix of ‘toppers’, experienced riders and young talent. The riders who join you will be young and talented and a good addition to the team.”