Two more riders from closing HTC-Highroad team to join Belgian team
Quick Step has announced the signing of František Rabon and Bert Grabsch from next year on two-year contracts. Both riders are currently with HTC-Highroad, which folds at the end of the season, and will be joining current teammates Tony Martin and Martin and Peter Velits, as well as sports director Brian Holm at the team that will be called Omega Pharma-Quick Step.
“František and Bert are two excellent team players, athletes with great intellect who can win and carry their team mates into position to vie for victory,” said Quick Step’s general manager Patrick Lefevere. “Both are fantastic time triallists and great pace setters, who can carry out quality and quantity work at the front of the group.”
28-year-old Czech Rabon is a three-time national time trial champion, who has been with the HTC-Highroad team since he turned professional in 2006. His biggest victory to date, aside from his time trial championships, was the overall 2010 Vuelta a Murcia.
Grabsch has been with HTC-Highroad since 2007, where he joined from the Swiss Phonak team. The 36-year-old German is also a multiple national time trial champion, but also won the World championship against the clock in Varese Italy, in 2008.