Dutch team settled for next year, when it will maintain Professional Continental status
Skil-Shimano have signed Martin Reimer, who currently rides for the Cervélo TestTeam, whose signature completes the team’s roster. The 23-year-old German turned professional with the Swiss-registered team in 2009, but has found himself surplus to requirements as it merges with Garmin-Transitions in 2011.
Reimer made an immediate impact on the elite peloton, winning the German national title at his first attempt. Other notable 2009 results included third overall in the Tour of Britain, which included two top-three stage finishes, and ninth place in Pari-Tours. This season has been less successful though, with second place in stage 2 of the Critérium du Dauphiné his best result.
As a sprinter, Reimer expects to fit in with the team’s sprint train, as well as its classics specialists; he is the fifth German to sign for the team.
With the signing of Reimer, and Matthieu Sprick from Bbox Bouygues Telecom earlier in the week, the Skil-Shimano team has completed its roster for the 2011 season.
‘We have a lot of confidence in the team for next season,” said the team’s general manager Iwan Spekenbrink. “I can certainly say that on paper this is the strongest squad we’ve ever had.
“We have invested in promising international talents,” he continued, “by signing the German Marcel Kittel, the Frenchmen Thomas Bonnin and Thomas Damuseau, and the Dutchman Ronan van Zandbeek, and the team has also been strengthened with Johannes Fröhlinger, Roger Kluge and our latest two signings Sprick and Reimer.
“Lastly,” he added, “we have extended the contracts of riders that have broken through, like Tom Veelers, Mitchell Docker and Alexandre Geniez, and of established riders in the team. In doing so, our main concern has been whether riders can improve in our team and whether they fit into our philosophy.’
Along with fellow Dutch team Vacansoleil, Skil-Shimano were denied invitations to many of the big races of the year, including all three Grand Tours, even though the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France both started in the Netherlands. To ensure its own invitation to those races in future Vacansoleil has applied for the top level ProTeam status for 2011; Skil-Shimano is happy to stay where it is though, at Professional Continental level, and so must rely on wildcard invitations once more.
Skil-Shimano Cycling Team 2011:
Riders already with Skil-Shimano team:
Tom Veelers, Koen de Kort, Albert Timmer, Roy Curvers, Robin Chaigneau, Kenny van Hummel (all Netherlands), Thierry Hupond, Alexandre Geniez, Yann Huguet (all France), Simon Geschke (Germany), Feng Han, Cheng Ji (both China), Bert De Backer (Belgium), Mitchell Docker (Australia), Yukihiro Doi (Japan).
New riders for 2011:
Thomas Damuseau, Thomas Bonnin, Matthieu Sprick (all France), Johannes Fröhlinger, Roger Kluge, Marcel Kittel, Martin Reimer (all Germany), Ronan van Zandbeek (Netherlands).