United Healthcare rider to return after one year in the United StatesUnited Healthcare’s Marc De Maar has confirmed recent rumours that he has signed a contract with Quick Step for 2011. The Dutch-born rider has agreed a one-year deal with the Belgian team, with an option for a second year.
Prior to his move to the United States this season, De Maar had spent his entire professional career with Rabobank, riding for the Continental under-23 team for two seasons before moving up to the ProTour squad in 2006. He crossed the Atlantic looking for new goals and to re-find his love for cycling after illness, injury and failing to live up to his potential.
In June of this year, he also switched the nationality of his racing license to the Netherlands Antilles, where he won the national championships.
“I’ve had my time in America and I wouldn’t have missed it,” said De Maar. “I’ve rediscovered myself as a cyclist; I enjoyed the country and the races there. The fun came back [into cycling] and the results followed; the results also didn’t go unnoticed in the big teams.”
This season to day, De Maar has won a stage of the Cascade Classic, two stages of the Tour de Beauce and a stage and the overall of the Mount Hood Cycling Classic. By far his most high-profile result of the year though was his 13th place overall in the Tour of California.
“I have received several offers,” he continued, “but I have the best feeling with Quick Step. The team manager Patrick Lefevere has confidence and that makes me feel very good.”
Not only has he rediscovered his appetite for cycling, but De Maar has also re-evaluated his qualities as a rider.
“I have discovered that I am a rider who must do climbing races,” he explained, “I have no business in the Flemish races that I was so active in at the beginning of my career. In a team like Quick Step, and the way that it started the Tour de France, I’ll get the best for my ability.”
“Marc De Maar is back in Europe,” he added, “and that will not go unnoticed!”