Team hopeful that youngster can have same successful inaugural season as Lightart and Keizer
The Vacansoleil team has announced the signing of Barry Markus as a stagiaire for the remainder of the 2011 cycling season, starting on August 1. The contract was signed Saturday evening, after the U23 National Championships of the Netherlands. Markus has been riding for the Rabobank Continental team for the last two years.
The team's director Jean-Paul van Poppel was delighted to have secured the young Dutchman. "When you see Markus ride, you can experience his power: he is a young man who can tear a race apart." Vacansoleil was lucky with its stagiaires this season. "This year, our neo-pros Lightart and Keizer won races directly with the professionals, thanks to their race intelligence. We see the same with Markus."
Markus was happy with the signing of the contract and the chance to get a two-year contract after the trial phase. "It is super nice that I get the chance with this team. It is a dream to become a professional and I want to grab this with both hands." Markus is pleased with the Vacansoleil way of handling cycling's future. "The last few years, Vacansoleil gave a lot of young riders the chance. I'll name Ruijgh, Poels, Keizer and Ligthart. These racers were doing quite well right away and I want to follow their footsteps."
Markus won two classics this season, including the Dorpenomloop in Rucphen. In Saturday's race, he was part of a very successful Rabobank Continental team. His teammates Ramon Sinkeldam and Wesley Kreder won gold and bronze. Teammate Jetse Bol and Markus led home the bunch in 12th and 13th, 17 seconds behind the winner.
He will determine his race program for the time starting August 1 in close collaboration with Vacansoleil and the Rabobank Continental team. One of his race goals is already clear - the U23 World Championships time trial in Copenhagen.
Markus is the second rider to get a chance this season, with Bert-Jan Lindeman's contract already signed earlier.
Lightart won the mountain's jersey in the Critérium International as well as the one-day Hel van het Mergelland. Keizer took the Boucles de l'Aulne in May.