Today Team Sunweb officially saw the light, ahead of its 2017 debut season. The German WorldTour team was presented to the media at Münster-Osnabrück airport, where the team’s new Swiss based title partner Sunweb is creating a new hub for their customers to fly to various European holiday destinations.
The 2017 line-ups of the team’s WorldTour men’s and women’s programs were presented to the audience, along with the team’s new Development program.
The new kit made its debut with leading European online tour operator Sunweb, the team’s new and exclusive title partner, dominantly visible alongside the team’s key partners Giant and Renson. The kit’s iconic two stripes representing the team’s deeply embedded “Keep Challenging” approach, also returns to the distinguished white and black kit.
Team Sunweb CEO Iwan Spekenbrink (NED) said: “Both the men’s and women’s program have been bolstered with several strong new signings, who we believe fit well within our team’s sporting environment and our specific elite sports approach. They will contribute to our team stepping up yet another level. Alongside this we will have a further enhanced focus on promoting the regrowth of cycling in Germany both through the team’s German WorldTour program, as well as through the team’s new Development program, which aims to deliver the best science, technology and coaching to the next generation of German and international stars pursuing a successful career into the WorldTour. This new state-of-the art program provides a solid and structural contribution to shaping the future of German cycling and has set its aims high to become the world’s leading and most innovative program in talent development. Sunweb’s commitment to both cycling’s present and future, allows the team to step up the sporting prestige of its men’s and women’s pro ranks and establish its new development program. It is a great day for both cycling and German cycling.”
With new arrivals Michael Matthews (AUS) and Wilco Kelderman (NED), the team adds two leaders to its WorldTour men’s roster. Both are still at a young age and are expected to further progress in the coming years. Matthews and Kelderman join Warren Barguil (FRA) and Tom Dumoulin (NED) as leaders for many races in the UCI WorldTour calendar. With Barguil, Dumoulin and Kelderman the team is expected to make their mark in the classifications whilst with Matthews the team will aim for the big classics and punchy sprints.
The arrival of some of the world’s most high-potential talents such as former junior World time trial champion, Lennard Kämna (GER) and Chris Hamilton (AUS) allow the team to continue the development of the next generation of the stars from within its own ranks.
On top of that, the team welcomes five new signings to its women’s roster. This includes former World time trial champion and current European time trial champion, Ellen van Dijk (NED), as well as double Dutch road champion, Lucinda Brand (NED), alongside other promising talents. The Development program is excited to welcome Felix Gall (AUT) and Clément Betouigt-Suire (FRA), who placed both first and second respectively at the 2015 men’s junior World championships in Richmond, USA.
As part of a long-term agreement with the world’s biggest bicycle brand Giant, all of Team Sunweb’s rosters will be racing on Giant and Liv machines.
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Michael KUKRLE 30 years | today |
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