Having shown his ability with a strong fourth place overall finish in the Tour de l’Avenir plus the runner-up slot in the Norwegian road race championships, Vegard Stake Langen is one of two new signings to the Team Type 1 – SANOFI team for 2012.
The 22 year old had a strong season with the Joker Merida team, Edvald Boasson Hagen’s old squad. He placed third in the European championship time trial and twelfth in the road race, and was also a fine second behind Alexander Kristoff in those Norwegian road race championships. Riders who finished behind him in the event include 2010 world road race champion Thor Hushvod (Garmin-Cervélo), plus the Sky Procycling duo Lars Petter Nordhaug and Kurt Asle Arvesen.
His other results include third overall in the Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux, fourth in the Norwegian time trial championships and fifth overall in the Tour of Alsace. His potential is obvious, and Team Type 1 - SANOFI General Manager Vassili Davidenko is pleased that he is coming on board.
“We're very excited about Vegard,” he enthused. “He has a strong palmares list from the Tour de l'Avenir, where he finished fourth overall this year, and he joins us from several seasons of racing in Italy and the rest of Europe. He is a champion time trialist, a very strong climber and a smart racer. Vegard speaks English very well and has a good track record on climbs in France and Italy, and on the cobbles in Belgium. We think he will be a very good fit with us at Team Type 1 – SANOFI.”
Stake Langen is one of four signings confirmed by the team, with these additions bringing the roster for 2012 up to 23. Daniele Callegarin is returning to the team after riding for it this year and will appreciate the show of faith after the big crash in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge which ended his season.
“Daniele is part of our family, and the most important thing for him is to get back on his bike and make a full return to the peloton,” said Davidenko “The crash was very serious, and at the time our only thoughts were for his health and safety. But now that he is getting back on the bike we look forward to him being with us in 2012.”
Also returning is the Australian Fabio Calabria, who is one of several diabetics on the team. Davidenko emphasised both his athletic ability and also his work as a spokesman for the team and its cause, namely showing the community that it is possible to have the disease but yet function normally.
The fourth signing is American rider Joey Rosskopf, previously part of the development squad and one who had a stagiaire slot in the second half of this year. He’s raced with the US National Team in Europe and impressed after stepping up to the Team Type 1 elite squad.
“With Joey we saw excellent results after a lot of tremendous effort, and we're very happy to welcome him to the team,” said Davidenko, who emphasised the importance that the team helps the next generation of US riders come through.
The team has the target to continually grow and expand, with the long term aim of competing in the sport’s top events, including the Tour de France. “Each year at Team Type 1 we have grown step by step. In 2011 we raced at a brand new level and expanded our roster and staff to match,” said team CEO and co-founder Phil Southerland.