Double Tour of Flanders winner Peter Van Petegem has confirmed that he will take up a temporary position with the Garmin-Cervélo team, seeking to aid the squad to land its first of the spring Classics.
The 41 year old Belgian will temporarily fill the slot vacated recently by Matt White, and will work closely with riders such as world champion Thor Hushovd, former Milan-Sanremo runner up Heinrich Haussler, Tyler Farrar and others.
“I have come to an agreement with Garmin, which begins in March and ends after Paris-Roubaix,” he confirmed to Het Nieuwsblad. “I really want to get involved in the team but I’m a busy man. I will be present with the team at Milan-Sanremo to start talking with the riders.”
He feels he can help in several different areas, such as giving “information on how to start the Classic, where they are placed and where they should not lose energy in such nerve-racking and power consuming classics. I find it a challenge. Basically, because the races are dear to my heart.”
Van Petegem worked briefly with Alberto Contador last season, helping the Spaniard work on his technique in advance of to the cobblestone sections in the Tour de France. Many predicted that the climber would lose considerable time there, but he performed well over the pavé and only conceded some seconds near the end due to a rubbing brake.
He’s looking forward to the chance to work with the Garmin-Cervélo riders, describing it as “a great challenge. With Hushovd, Farrar, Haussler and Klier, it is certainly the best team in the world for these races.”
Information on how to start the classic, where they are and where they should not lose energy in such nerve-racking and power consuming classics. I find it a challenge. Basically because the prices are dear to my heart. "
The Garmin-Cervélo team is on a roll thus far this season, having clocked up nine victories. These include three by Cameron Meyer (stage and overall in Tour Down Under, national TT championships), two by Tyler Farrar (Trofeo Cala Millor and Trofeo Palma de Mallorca), two by Heinrich Haussler in the Tour of Qatar and single victories by Jack Bobridge (Australian national road race title) and Murilo Fischer, who triumphed in yesterday’s Trofeo Magalluf - Palmanova.
Van Petegem was a professional between 1992 and 2007, racing with teams such as PDM, Lotto, TVM and Quick Step. Apart from those two victories in the Tour of Flanders, he also won Paris-Roubaix in 2003, two editions in the Three Days of De Panne and three in the Omloop Het Volk.