The quest for a ProTeam license for the Netherlands's other top team, Vacansoleil, took a turn for the positive today, as the team announced a sponsorship deal with Palmans, a company that has long provided dollars to cycling.
Vacansoleil team manager, Daan Luijkx, was pleased to announce the new partnership.
"Palmans is recognizable, and they have had a warm heart for cycling for twenty years now. They have a lot of experience with cycling sponsorship and are a nice complement to the current group."
Vacansoleil, currently ranked 12th in the UCI's team ratings, was already looking to be a good possibility for ProTeam designation, but the addition of Palmans will only help their cause. It has been a fruitful fall for Vacansoleil with a number of solid signings including Riccardo Ricco and Stijn Devolder, but also on the sponsor front as well, with the signings of Ridley, DCM, and now Palmans.
"The team achieved places in the top three 74 times in 2010 with 19 different riders. These results were obtained throughout the entire season, which shows how strong the team is. The core of the team has been maintained and, with Devolder, De Gendt, and Ricco, we feel we are ready for the first division level," said Luijkx in a recent team statement.
The Flemish company will become an official sponsor on January 1, 2011 to make the team, officially, the Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team.