Darren Lapthorne is set to compete in some of the world’s top races in 2011, with the 2007 Australian road race champion moving to the new Pegasus Racing Team.
Although the signing hasn’t yet been officially announced, he was spotted in photos released yesterday of the riders at the first team get-together.
When contacted, John Herety, manager of Lapthorne’s current Rapha-Condor-Sharp squad, confirmed that the 27 year old was moving.
Lapthorne has been part of Rapha-Condor-Sharp for the past two seasons and last year won a stage of the Tour de Beauce in the team’s colours. He is one of the strongest riders on the squad but, rather than hanging on to him, Herety feels he deserves the opportunity he will now get.
“I’m so pleased that Darren has secured a place with Pegasus,” he told VeloNation. “Without doubt, he was one of the classiest riders I have had the pleasure of working with. The chance to ride with what is in effect an Aussie national team must a dream come true for him.”
Lapthorne will join up with countryman Robbie McEwen, a twelve-time winner of stages in the Tour de France, and one of the most experienced riders in the peloton. Other confirmed names include Christian Knees (Milram), Daryl Impey (RadioShack), Serguei Klimov (Team Katusha), Ben Day (Pegasus Racing) and the Garmin Transitions trio of Svein Tuft, Robbie Hunter and Trent Lowe.
The team recently applied for a ProTeam (ProTour) licence but will have to compete with a Pro Continental registration for 2011. However it is determined to ride Grand Tours including, it hopes, the Tour de France, and to chase a ProTour licence for 2012.
Herety is confident that Lapthorne will rise to the challenge and achieve big things. “I personally believe Darren will thrive at the higher level events Pegasus plan to ride and I expect to see Darren Lapthorne's name prominent in major races in 2011,” he said.
The Briton is currently in Italy as part of preparations for the Gran Corsa Italia event the Prostate Cancer Charity and Sharp UK are organising in order to raise funds to fight the disease. It will see those signed up riding the route of the 2011 Giro d’Italia.
Rapha-Condor-Sharp rider and VeloNation blogger Ben Greenwood wrote about the event yesterday, and more details are available here.
Herety has signed some strong riders for 2011, and his team is expected to continue growing and developing.