The presentation for the Skil-Shimano cycling team took place today in Rotterdam, where the Tour de France will start in precisely 169 days. Along with the presentation, the riders also explored the course of the prologue that will kick off the Tour in July. The team will depend on a wildcard spot to gain entry into the race.
Skil-Shimano welcomes six new riders in 2010: Belgian Dominique Cornu, Dutchmen Job Vissers and Robin Chaigneau, Frenchmen Alexandre Geniez and Yann Huguet, and Norwegian Frederik Wilmann.
"The team and the organisation have been strengthened in terms of both quantity and quality, while the core of the team has been retained. We have a good set of riders for 2010, which the staff have every confidence in," explained team manager Iwan Spekenbrink.
For 2010 Skil-Shimano will again feature three Chinese riders on the team. The team has been working hard to cultivate this new talent. "The young Chinese riders have come on great strides in all areas over the past two years," said Spekenbrink. "We expect them to be ready to take part in more international races this season."
The team's goals are to gain wildcard selections in some of the bigger events after their successful debut in the 2009 Tour de France. They hope to take part in two Grand Tours during the season.
Skil-Shimano cycling team 2010
Riders: Piet Rooijakkers, Albert Timmer, Tom Veelers, Roy Curvers, Kenny van Hummel, Koen de Kort, Floris Goesinnen, Robin Chaigneau, Job Vissers (all Netherlands), Thierry Hupond, David Deroo, Steve Houanard, Yann Huguet, Alexandre Geniez (France), Robert Wagner, Simon Geschke (Germany), Bert De Backer, Dominique Cornu (Belgium), Yukihiro Doi (Japan), Feng Han, Long Jin, Cheng Ji (China), Frederik Wilmann (Norway), Mitchell Docker (Australia)
General manager: Iwan Spekenbrink (Netherlands)
Directeurs sportifs: Rudie Kemna, Piet Hoekstra, Merijn Zeeman (Netherlands)