The Quick Step team was presented in the Kortrijk Expo in Kortrijk, Belgium today, looking to improve on a disappointing 2010. The roster is made up of 26 riders, 14 of whom are new to the team this year, and represent six countries. Despite the experience of many of the team’s riders, the average age is just 26 years.
The team will once again be led by 2005 World champion and classics star Tom Boonen, whose own season last year seemed to mirror the team’s. A knee injury picked up in the Tour of California, then exacerbated in the Tour de Suisse, saw him sit out the summer, including the Tour de France.
As well as Boonen, the team will look to its other big stars to shine, including Kevin De Weert, who will be aiming for the overall classification in stage races, and French duo Sylvain Chavanel and Jérôme Pineau, who won two stages of the Tour de France – earning yellow on both occasions – and a stage of the Giro d’Italia respectively.
As well as its existing riders the team will be looking to newly signed sprinters Francesco Chicchi and Gerald Ciolek, as well as Dutch champion Niki Terpstra and Gert Steegmans, who returns to the team after three years away.
The big news for the team in 2011 though is the deal made by team manager Patrick Lefevere and Unilin Flooring, with Czech billionaire Zdenek Bakala, which will ensure the team’s continuity past the end of this season.
“I was asked the question: ‘what happens after 2011?’ Exhausted,” said Lefevere, according to Sporza. “I’ve been judged by the doping stories in our sport. I’m an optimist, but when Contador was found positive I was in the office for two days.
“Finally we made the agreement with Mr Bakala,” he explained, “who was very happy with out accounting. The budget has remained what it was; this is a year of transition. Then we’ll see how we can build the team.”
Once the budget has been sorted the most important thing for any cycling team though, especially for one that has enjoyed as much as Lefevere’s has over the years, is results.
“We need to win,” Lefevere said. “They say I’m a bad loser, but I’m someone who especially values victories.
"Where Tom Boonen is concerned, I'm hopeful. He is now working with a personal coach and has recently discovered that he loves cycling, which is a beautiful job that pays very well. Last year he didn’t win a classic, but that is not abnormal. There is absolutely no guarantee that you’ll win every year.
"As a team player,” he added, “I hope that the depth team in the brings what we expect. I cannot immediately name any names; I would like to do well in all areas."
For Bakala the decision to lend his support to the team was a simple one.
“Let me first of all state that I am delighted to be entering 2011 as a partner of Team Quick Step,” he said in a statement, “and that I am excited by what the future holds for our team and the wider sport of cycling.
“As both a passionate cycling fan and businessman,” he explained, “I strongly believe in the future of the sport. Yet there is a large gap between the immense popularity of professional cycle racing and its commercial potential.”
“I am pleased to be able to make a modest contribution towards closing that gap.”
Quick Step has already started its season, with seven of its riders currently contesting the Santos Tour Down Under. The team will then ride the Tour du Gabon, the Tour of Qatar and the Tour of Oman, before returning to Europe for the usual spring classics season.
Existing riders:
Tom Boonen (Bel)
Dario Cataldo (Ita)
Sylvain Chavanel (Fra)
Dries Devenyns (Bel)
Kevin De Weert (Bel)
Addy Engels (Ned)
Iljo Keisse (Bel)
Nikolas Maes (Bel)
Davide Malacarne (Ita)
Jerôme Pineau (Fra)
Francesco Reda (Ita)
Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel)
Andreas Stauff (Ger)
Kevin Van Impe (Bel)
New riders:
Marco Bandiera (Ita)
Andy Cappelle (Bel)
Francesco Chicchi (Ita)
Gerald Ciolek (Ger)
Marc De Maar (AHo)
Fréderique Robert (Bel)
Gert Steegmans (Bel)
Niki Terpstra (Hol)
Jan Tratnik (Slo)
Kristof Vandewalle (Bel)
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel)
Julien Vermote (Bel)