On the same day Aussie Graeme Brown wrapped up a stage race victory for Rabobank in Austrailia, the 2009 Rabobank team lineup was unveiled in Rotterdam. The team of 30 riders, including veteran stars Oscar Freire, Juan Antonio Flecha and Denis Menchov—as well as up-and-coming super-talent Robert Gesink—was introduced to fans, sponsors and media at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Stadium.
At the team introduction, Rabobank director Harold Knebel said cycling fans can expect to see a more aggressive Rabobank team this year. “In the coming year we want to attack more, take more initiative,” Knebel told reporters.
Freire, the three-time world champion from Spain, will try to add a fourth rainbow jersey to his collection this year and will also focus on the Milan-San Remo classic and the Tour de France. Gesink, seventh overall at last year’s Vuelta a España, is scheduled to make his debut at the Tour this year. This year’s Rabobank team also features six new riders, including Belgian acquisition Nick Nuyens.
Meanwhile, with the racing season already underway in Australia, Graeme Brown scored the first win of the season for Rabobank. Brown won a stage and captured the overall victory at the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic. It was the Australian’s first win in seven tries at the five-day series of circuit races.
Here is the complete Rabobank Cycling Team roster for 2009:
Riders: Mauricio Ardila (Colombia), Lars Boom (Netherlands), Graeme Brown (Australia), Stef Clement (Netherlands), Bram de Groot (Netherlands), Marc de Maar (Netherlands), Juan Antonio Flecha (Spain), Rick Flens (Netherlands), Oscar Freire (Spain), Juan Manuel Garate (Spain), Robert Gesink (Netherlands), Mathew Hayman (Australia), Pedro Horrillo (Spain), Dmitriy Kozontchouk (Russia), Sebastian Langeveld (Netherlands), Tom Leezer (Netherlands), Paul Martens (Germany), Denis Menchov (Russia), Koos Moerenhout (Netherlands), Bauke Mollema (Netherlands), Grischa Niermann (Germany), Nick Nuyens (Belgium), Joost Posthuma (Netherlands), Kai Reus (Netherlands), Tom Stamsnijder (Netherlands), Bram Tankink (Netherlands), Laurens ten Dam (Netherlands), Maarten Tjallingii (Netherlands), Jos van Emden (Netherlands) and Pieter Weening (Netherlands).