The Skil-Shimano cycling team has confirmed that Kenny van Hummel will leave the team at the end of the season. The Dutch team will not offer the sprinter a new contract when his current one expires at the end of the season. In a statement sent out to the press, the team said, “Van Hummel is looking forward to a new challenge and Skil-Shimano expands its sprint train with other quick riders. In recent years Kenny van Hummel was a respected rider on the team, each year taking several victories."
Under the International Cycling Union (UCI) regulation, riders are not allowed to disclose the name of new teams they are joining until 1 August.
“After six years I am ready for something new, a new challenge,” said van Hummel.
“I know all the ins and outs within the team. I need a different environment; I have a little uncertainty about how things go. Just call it healthy tension.”
Skil-Shimano was offered a wildcard entry to the Tour de France in 2009. Van Hummel was the lantern rouge (last placed-rider) of the race before eventually pulling out on stage sixteen.
Van Hummel has been with the team since he turned professional in 2006 and has won seventeen races in total. He’s got four victories this season including the overall win in the Ronde van Drenthe and a stage in the Presidential Tour of Turkey.
At the same time as announcing Van Hummel’s exit, the team announced the signing of the exciting new Dutch talent Ramon Sinkeldam.
Sinkeldam this year won the Paris-Roubaix Espoirs race and the Tour of Limburg a week later. He is also the Dutch national under 23 champion, a race he won solo. The 22 year old currently rides for the highly successful Rabobank Continental development team and will join Skil-Shimano on a two year contract.