Luke Roberts strengthens the performance team of Team Giant-Alpecin. Roberts has been a member of the Australian national track team for more than 10 years and has spent several years with professional road teams. Since ending his career as a pro rider in 2014 he has been a sports director at Team CULT Energy.

Team Giant-Alpecin coach Rudi Kemna said: “We’ve talked extensively with Luke to assess whether he would be a good match for our organization and to see if there is a personal fit too. This turned out to be the case. Factors that played a major role in our decision were his experience as a pro cyclist, first as a track rider, with the specific training that involves, followed by his experience as a road cyclist, at both large and small teams, in combination with his knowledge of and interest in training science. He has also gained the necessary experience as a coach in recent years, and we want to bring him into our WorldTour team to help him develop into a complete and versatile coach within our organization. 

“The first year he will have the opportunity to gain specific experience with our seasoned coaches, especially with regard to our way of working, with Team Giant-Alpecin’s Keep Challenging approach.”

About his new challenge, Roberts said: “Since ending my career as a professional cyclist I have wanted to move forward in my career as a coach. I was looking for a team that fit my philosophy in cycling, and I found that team in Team Giant-Alpecin. I have a lot of respect for the team and its approach to modern cycling, as it is always pushing the development of the team and the sport of cycling itself. So I was keen to make a deal to work together and to progress as a coach. In my first year I will integrate into the team and begin to show my value to the team.”
 
At the same time, Team Giant-Alpecin parts ways with coach Christian Guiberteau.