eugenio alafaci

Transcription

eugenio alafaci

EUGENIO ALAFACI
PALMARES
One of the new recruits to the team, his first go at the WorldTour
level, is Italian Eugenio Alafaci. Arriving from the Leopard Trek
Continental team, where he was under the guidance of sport director
Adriano Baffi, he is one of the young guns added to the Trek Factory
Racing team’s investment in the future. Eugenio, 24, was already
riding a bicycle at age three, pedaling wildly around his home streets,
and rose through his first years in the same cycling club GS San
Pietro as veteran Italian rider Ivan Basso.
2013
1st Simac Omloop der Kempen
3rd GP Criquielion
In his first professional year with the continental team, he finished 13
times in the top five, always knocking on the door but never nailing
his first win. That would change the following year when he finally
broke the curse and won Omloop der Kempen, a one-day race in
the Netherlands. As an all-rounder, he prefers the races of Belgium,
Netherlands and Northern France and has always been inspired by
Fabian Cancellara.
2008
5th Junior World Championships, Road
1st Junior National Track Championionships, Individual pursuit
Eugenio jokes about his first years in junior where he was eating
croissants and gelato every day and weighed 90kg. However, he
was still winning races. A few years later he grew taller, became
more serious about his eating habits, and benefited with a fifth in the
2008 Junior World Road Championships. He enjoys fashion and has
recently opened a clothing store with his younger brother, Fabio.
2012
2nd Antwerpse Havenpijl
JULIÁN ARREDONDO
PALMARES
Colombian Julián Arredondo joins Trek Factory Racing after two
seasons racing with the Italian-Japanese Continental team Nippo-De
Rosa. Although he competed in Italy for five seasons, and amassed
eight victories in that time, it was his results in Asia that generated
full attention to this diminutive Colombian climber. In 2012, Julián
finished second overall in the Tour de Kumano and Tour of Japan.
For 2013, he upped the ante and won the Tour de Langkawi early in
the year, followed that with the overall in the Tour de Kumano, and
then - while helping his teammate cinch the leader’s jersey - finished
second in the Tour of Japan. It was more than enough reason for Trek
Factory Racing to sign the budding 24 year-old cyclist. For Julián this
is a dream come true.
2013
1st Overall, Tour de Langkawi
1st Stage 5, Tour de Langkawi
1st Overall, Tour de Kumano
1st Stage 2, Tour de Kumano
2nd Overall, Tour of Japan
Julián was born and raised in Ciudad Bolivar, a city in the heart of the
cycling-crazed and coffee-rich department of Antioquia. Persuaded
by his father and uncles, all avid cyclists, he began racing at a very
young age; first with the city’s cycling club, then as he progressed, to
another local academy. From here, he made the last leap in his desire
to achieve his life-long dream: he headed to Italy.
His final year in Italy - despite many visa complications that often left
him home and unable to join his U23 team SCAP-Foresi - he won the
Italian Elite Classification. This prompted the Nippo-DeRosa team
to sign him. They, too, saw the bright and promising potential of this
gifted, young climbing sensation.
2012
1st Stage 2, Tour of Japan
2nd Overall, Tour of Japan
2nd Overall, Tour de Kumano
2010
1st GP Folignano
FUMIYUKI BEPPU
PALMARES
To Fumy Beppu, signing with Trek Factory Racing feels like coming
home. He began his professional career with Discovery Channel and
also spent two years with Team RadioShack before joining OricaGreenEDGE the past two seasons. Returning to the Trek family was
an easy decision. Fumy brings a wealth of experience with him - he
has ridden on WorldTour teams since 2005 – and is the most
celebrated rider in Japan’s history.
2013
1st Chigasaki Criterium
Japan boasts a strong bicycle culture in keirin racing, but road
racing is not as well-known. Fortunately, Fumy was introduced to
the sport at a young age by his father, plus had a strong desire to
follow the path of his older brother who went on to ride in Europe
with Team Nippo. He was the strongest cyclist in his high school
cycling league, winning the National Title easily, and from here he
ventured to Canada to race in the acclaimed junior race Tour de
l’Abitibi in Quebec. Gaining confidence he attended two Junior
World Championships before making the bold leap to France, a move
he knew was necessary if he wanted to make it in a European sport.
He joined the top-level French amateur club Vélo Club La Pomme
Marseille, where he was finally recognized for his strong results
including a 14th place in the U23 Paris-Roubaix.
Fumy continues to reside in France, a place he considers home, living
there since graduating from high school. He is considered one of the
kindest riders in the peloton and is the ultimate team player, giving
his all for the team in every way possible. He has a fondness for the
Classics and a dream win, his first win in Europe as a professional,
would be a stage of the Tour de France.
2011
1st National Championships, Road
1st National Championships. ITT
8th GP Ouest-France Plouay
2009
2nd Stage 1, Route de Sud
2008
1st Asian Championships, Road
2007
2nd Stage 3, Tour de Romandie
2006
1st National Championships. ITT
MATTHEW BUSCHE
PALMARES
It was a result of a running injury that Matthew Busche stumbled
upon cycling. He was three times All-American in cross country
running during his collegiate years, and if not for tendonitis he
may never have discovered that his real talent lay in the bicycle.
Matthew, the sole American on the team for 2014, started cycling
for rehabilitation and dabbled in bike racing but returned to running
once injury-free. That is until he graduated from college in 2007.
Knowing that his running was not quite good enough to pursue a
professional career, or the Olympics, he picked up the bicycle again
and within two years surged from amateur to UCI continental to
WorldTour– perhaps the fastest rise ever in professional cycling.
2013
5th Overall, Tour of Utah
6th Overall, Tour of California
7th Overall, Tour of Austria
In 2010, Matthew began his fairy-tale career with Team RadioShack,
and a mere year later was crowned National Road Champion. He
has remained with the team through the merger with Leopard Trek.
He is a strong climber and boasts a second place overall in the 2012
edition of the Tour of Utah. Last season he placed a respectable 5th
overall in Utah and 6th in the Tour of California. His main focus will
be as domestique for Andy and Fränk Schleck, and he is cherishing
the chance to support the brothers this year.
One of the biggest goals for Matthew will be the Tour of California,
where he will get his chance to shine. He would love nothing more
than to join the Tour de France squad in support of Andy and Fränk.
It would be his first Tour, a surreal concept to this former College
running star.
2012
2nd Overall, Tour of Utah
8th Overall, USAPro Cycling Challenge
2011
1st USA Pro Championships, TT
3rd USA Pro Championships, Road
2010
3rd Overall, Tour of Denmark
4th Stage 3, Tour of Austria
FABIAN CANCELLARA
PALMARES
The undisputed leader of the team, Fabian Cancellara is happy to
remain with the Trek family. It was essential for him to continue
what has been a very successful relationship, including the strong
knit that exists in every part of the team, from riders to staff to
sponsors, and stay with the bike that has given him tremendous
success. Like Trek, Fabian wants to be best in class. With the
partnership solidified for the next three years, this goal has every
chance of succeeding.
2013
1st E3 Harelbeke
1st Tour of Flanders
1st Paris-Roubaix
1st Stage 7, Tour of Austria
1st Stage 11, Vuelta a España
3rd Road World Championships, TT
3rd Milan-Sanremo
He is without a doubt one of the best against the clock in history
and untouchable on the cobbles. His target races for 2014 will
again be the spring Classics, after winning both Flanders and
Paris-Roubaix last year, but Fabian also wants to help bring this
mixed team of veterans and youth together. He considers this a
key element for the future of the team and the sport. There is one
thing missing from his palmarès, one he would love to mark off
his to-do list: winning the rainbow jersey on the road. With still a
few chances left in his storied career, he has high hopes to checkoff this elusive victory in the years to come.
2012
1st Strade Bianche
1st Stage 7, Tirreno-Adriatico
1st National Championships, TT
1st Prologue, Tour de France
2nd Milan-Sanremo
Fabian lives a quiet life at home with his wife and two daughters.
When not deeply immersed in the rigors of cycling he spends
his remaining time with his family. He is the quintessential
professional: passionate, intense, focused, and confident; he pays
attention to every detail. He is strict in races, often driving his
teammates beyond exhaustion – but he is loyal to the core and
riders willingly go above and beyond to ride their guts out for him.
He is a true champion.
2011
1st E3 Harelbeke
1st Stage 7, Tirreno-Adriatico
1st Prologue, Tour du Luxembourg
1st Stage 1,Tour de Suisse
1st Stage 9, Tour de Suisse
2nd Milan - Sanremo
2nd Paris - Roubaix
3rd Tour of Flanders
2010
1st Stage 19,Tour de France
1st World Championships, TT
1st Paris - Roubaix
1st E3 Harelbeke
1st Overall, Tour of Oman
1st Prologue, Tour de Suisse
1st Prologue, Tour de France
2009
1st Prologue, Tour of California
1st Overall, Tour of Switzerland
1st Stage 1, Tour of Switzerland
1st Stage 1, Tour de France
2008
1st Olympics, TT
1st Milan - Sanremo
1st Overall, Tirenno-Adriatico
2007
1st Prologue, Stage 3 Tour de
France
2006
1st Paris-Roubaix
STIJN DEVOLDER
PALMARES
He is soft-spoken and calm off the bike. His gentle persona defies
what he excels at - and loves most - on the bike: a tempestuous race.
When the bunch is tight, when everyone is on the rivet and at his
limit, and when all hell is breaking loose, that is when Stijn Devolder
is in his element.
2013
One of the veteran riders with Trek Factory Racing, Stijn has ridden
for US Postal, Discovery, Quickstep, and Vacansoleil-DCM before
joining RadioShack- Leopard-Trek in 2013. It was sport director Dirk
Demol, knowing Stijn from his amateur days as well as on US Postal
and Quickstep, who brought the Belgian to the team last year when
others thought he was past his prime. Stijn responded by winning
the National Championships and supporting Cancellara in his rush to
classic victories.
Stijn won his first pro race in 2004, the fourth stage of the Four
Days of Dunkirk. In 2005, he made his mark by taking the overall in
Three Days of De Panne, then put a stamp on his career by winning
Flanders two years in a row, in 2008 and 2009. He continued
his winning ways in 2010 with the overall in the Tour of Belgium
and then doubled up in both road and time trial at the National
Championships.
He is a rider who can still execute in the Classics, providing a onetwo punch with Cancellara if the need should arise, but Stijn knows
his role is now that of support rider. In addition, his expertise is
invaluable in teaching the team’s young up-and-coming talent. If
he could have one more big victory, it would be in one race: ParisRoubaix. That would be the cherry to top a very sweet career.
2010
1st Overall, Tour of Belgium
2009
2008
1st Overall, Tour of the Algarve
1st Overall, Tour of Belgium
2007
1st Overall, Tour of Austria
1st Stage 4, Three Days of De Panne
3rd Overall, Tour de Suisse
2006
1st Stage 3a, Tour of Belgium
2005
1st Overall, Three Days of De Panne
LAURENT DIDIER
PALMARES
Laurent Didier grew up in a cycling culture. The Luxembourg rider
is a native of a cycling-crazed nation; his father was an established
professional over 30 years ago who helped his team, Renault, win
seven editions of the Tour de France with Bernard Hinault (4) and
Laurent Fignon (3). His maternal grandfather won three stages of the
Tour de France. There is little wonder why he was infected with the
cycling bug and even less that he reached the upper echelons of the
sport.
2013
2nd National Championships, TT
1st Mountains Classification, Tour du Haut Var
Laurent started his cycling career while attending school, studying
engineering, and obtained his university degree before turning pro.
In 2010, he joined Team Saxo Bank. He is a strong climber that also
can fare well against the clock. He is composed and controlled,
hardworking and intelligent. He’s a type of rider who knows the road
book by heart before the start of every stage. While he was with
Saxo Bank, he helped Alberto Contador win the 2011 edition of the
Giro d’Italia. A year later he joined RadioShack-Nissan Trek and has
remained part of the team since.
Last year, he raced his first Tour de France and hopes to be part
of the squad for 2014. He prefers stage races and relishes his role
of support rider for Andy and Fränk Schleck, but would also love
to win a stage if he had the chance. He won his National Road
Championships in 2012 and placed second last year in the National
Time Trial Championships to teammate Bob Jungels.
2012
1st Mountains Classification, Tour de Wallonie
2011
3rd National Championships, TT
3rd National Championships, Road
2009
2nd National Championships, TT
2nd National Championships, Road
2007
2005
1st National U23 Championships, Road
1st Stage 3a, Flèche du Sud
3rd Overall, Flèche du Sud
FABIO FELLINE
PALMARES
Trek Factory Racing will be his second go round with a WorldTour
team, and Italian prospect Fabio Felline is ready to improve on his
promising results. In 2010, as a neo pro at age 20, he won the overall
in the Circuit de Lorraine, bagging two stages and taking home the
points and best young rider classifications. This earned him a spot
on the Tour de France squad for his team Footon-Servetto Fuji, the
youngest starter that year.
2013
1st Stage 1a, Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali
1st Stage 2, Tour of Slovenia
Fabio packs a good sprint and has the ability to get over small climbs,
something that has already garnered him good results. In 2012,
Fabio won the Italian semi-classic Giro dell’Appennino after seven
categorized climbs had disseminated the peloton to 20 riders, yet he
still had enough to outsprint his compatriots at the finish. That same
year he won Memorial Marco Pantani and in 2013, he continued
showing sparks with a stage win at the Tour of Slovenia.
Although he is still discovering his true niche within cycling Fabio,
pulled off a stunning 10th place finish at the E3 Prijs VlaanderenHarelbeke - two days before his twentieth birthday – showing that he
can also tackle the cobbles. He dreams of winning Milan-Sanremo,
a race near his home that stirs up fond childhood memories. As a
sprinter who can climb, this may be closer to reality than he realizes.
2012
1st Memorial Marco Pantani
1st Giro dell’Appennino
2nd Stage 9, Giro d’Italia
2011
1st Stage 2a, Brixia Tour
2010
1st Overall, Circuit de Lorraine
1st Stage 2, Circuit de Lorraine
1st Stage 3, Circuit de Lorraine
DANILO HONDO
PALMARES
One of the veteran riders on the team, Danilo Hondo,
previously the main lead-out for Italian sprinter Alessandro
Petacchi will continue to mentor the team’s young sprinters
and lend support to the Classics’ squad. Danilo shows no
signs of slowing down, even at age 40, and last year proved
his ability to maintain a high level of condition for the entire
season.
2010
1st Stage 4, Giro di Sardegna
A natural leader with a wealth of experience Danilo joined
RadioShack in 2013. His goals are to develop the young
sprinters on the team - molding the team’s future from this
new generation - and help captain the races he cherishes
the most, the Classics. He would love nothing better than
to help Cancellara to another great Classics’ season, and
guide Nizzolo to a major sprint victory.
Danilo has over 100 career victories in both track and
road, but the one that stands out from the rest is also one
of his first: winning the team pursuit at the 1994 World
Championships. A bronze medal followed in the 1996
World Championhsips, however, the ultimate goal - to
medal in the Atlanta Olympic Games - never materialized.
It was then Danilo made the switch to road, signing his first
pro contract in 1997.
2009
1st Praha-Karlovy Vary-Praha
1st Stage 7, Volta a Portugal
1st Stage 5, Course de Solidarnosc
et des Champions Olympiques
2008
1st Stage 4, Tour of Langkawi
2007
1st Omloop van de Vlaamse
Scheldeboorden - Kruibeke
1st Stage 1, Rothaus Regio-Tour
1st Stages 2, 3, Circuito Montañes
1st Stage 2, Sachsen Tour
2006
1st Stages 2,3, Peace Race
1st Neuseen Classics Rund um die Braunkohle
2005
1st Stages 1,2, Vuelta a Murcia Costa Calida
2nd Milan-Sanremo
2004
1st GP Beghelli
1st Stage 5, Volta a Catalunya
1st Stage 5, Four Days of Dunkirk
1st Stages 1, 2, 4, 5
Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt
1st Stage 1, Tour du Poitou
Charentes et de la Vienne
2003
2002
1st Stage 3, Hessen-Rundfahrt
1st Stage 2, Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt
2001
1st Stages 2,3, Giro d’Italia
1st Points Classification, Paris-Nice
2000
1st Stage 1b, Tour of Sweden
1999
1st Stages 1,4,5, Peace Race
1st Stage 1, Regio Tour
1994
1st World Track Championships,
Team Pursuit
MARKEL IRIZAR
PALMARES
Basque cyclist Markel Irizar has not had an easy life. When he
was 15, he tragically lost his dad. At age 22 he was diagnosed with
testicular cancer, but it never slowed him down. With life seemingly
against him, Markel did the opposite: he developed a lust for life that
radiates wherever he goes. Using the unshakeable support of family
and friends, he returned to the sport he loves, eventually signing a
pro contract with Euskaltel-Euskadi (2004-2009) before joining
RadioShack in 2010. Today he is cancer free.
2012
2nd Prologue, Vuelta a Andalucía - Ruta del Sol
9th Overall, ThreeDays of De Panne
With few aspirations for himself, he is the ultimate teammate,
working selflessly for others. He is positive, always smiling and
exuding gratefulness in everything he does. He heaps praise on his
family at home, who have made huge scarifies so that he can pursue
his passion.
Markel is strong in the climbs and time trial, making him a cyclist that
can do a little of everything for the team. With the team behind him,
he pulled off his biggest victory in 2011, winning the five-day Ruta del
Sol in his home country.
2011
1st Overall, Vuelta a Andalucía - Ruta del Sol
2nd Prologue, Vuelta a Andalucía
3rd Stage 3, Vuelta a España
2010
1st Stage 4, Tour du Poitou-Charentes
5th Overall, Tour du Poitou-Charentes
2009
1st Mountains Classification, Tour Down Under
2008
2nd Prologue, Paris-Nice
BOB JUNGELS
PALMARES
In 2010, he won the junior World Time Trial Championships. In 2012
as an Espoir, he won Paris-Roubaix, Flèche du Sud, Le Triptyque
des Monts et Châteaux and the Luxembourg Time Trial National
Championships. One year later he signed with his first UCI Pro
team, Radioshack Leopard Trek. In his neo-pro season, he felt
overwhelmed but still pulled off four wins, including a double at the
National Championships in road and time trial. Now in his second
year at the WorldTour level, Bob Jungels - a mere 21 years of age feels more relaxed and comfortable amongst a team of riders he
used to watch and admire on tv.
2013
1st Stage 4, Tour of Luxembourg
1st GP Nobili Rubinetterie
There is no hiding his talent - the media already marked him a future
star years ago – but also noteworthy qualities are his calm demeanor
and maturity, traits beyond his years that will carry him far. His goals
are humble for 2014: to learn and gain more experience, especially in
a Grand Tour. He is still discovering his strengths but has pinpointed
stage races and hard one-day races, such as the Ardennes classics or
the Clásica San Sebastian, as races that favor his style.
2012
1st Paris-Roubaix, U23
1st Overall, Flèche du Sud
1st Stage 4, Flèche du Sud
1st Overall, Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux
1st Stage 4, Giro della Valle d’Aosta Mont Blanc
1st National U23 Championships, TT
ROBERT KISERLOVSKI
PALMARES
Robert Kiserlovski is a strong climber and excels as a support rider in
the mountains or on relentless, undulating courses like the Ardennes
classics. In 2010, he finished 10th overall in his favorite race the
Giro d’Italia while riding in support of Ivan Basso. It was also his first
Grand Tour.
2013
3rd Prologue, Volta a Catalunya
In 2012, he finished fifth at Flèche Wallonne, proving that with the
right opportunity he can battle with the best. He felt last year he
hit his best form ever despite the lack of results. With a little luck
and more work on improving his time trial, he hopes to reach the
breakthrough victory that is knocking on his door.
His target races for the 2014 season are Paris-Nice and the Giro
d’Italia - his dream race to win. Other than this, he will continue to
ride in support of the Schlecks, something he’s very skilled at.
2012
5th La Flèche Wallonne
5th Stage 12, Tour de France
2011
6th Overall, Giro del Trentino
2010
1st Giro dell’Appennino
10th Overall, Giro d’Italia
2008
3rd Overall, Tour of Slovenia
GIACOMO NIZZOLO
PALMARES
Giacomo Nizzolo grew up with motocross and became a very
accomplished athlete in this sport. His parents, concerned at the
motorbike being his sole focus at such an early age, gifted him with
a local bicycle club membership for his sixth birthday. Little did they
realize that this would change his life forever. He continued to race
motocross, and would draw upon these skills while blossoming into a
promising young sprinter in cycling. Even today he shows exceptional
aptitude on the harrowing descents and loves the adrenaline rush of
bumping elbows at 60kph nearing the race finish.
2013
2nd GP Ouest France - Plouay
1st Stages 2, 3, Tour of Luxembourg
In 2008, racing in the U23 category, a catastrophic crash landed
him in the hospital for 20 days followed by four months off the bike.
His ability to bounce back from such a terrifying moment during
his development speaks loudly to his character. In 2011, he joined
Leopard Trek and won his first race as a professional, stage five of
the Bayern-Rundfahrt. He continued showing promise in 2012 by
winning the overall at Tour of Wallonie in Belgium, followed by his
first WorldTour victory at the Eneco tour in stage five. In 2013, he
narrowly missed out on taking home the honors in GP Ouest-France
Plouay finishing second although, for him, it was still a special
moment making the podium.
Giacomo, 25, was born in Milan but resides in Switzerland, a stone’s
throw over the border from his family in Northern Italy. His favorite
race is Milan-Sanremo, a dream race to win. He has the ability to
get over climbs, in addition to his sprinting prowess, and this young
talent has many years ahead to make his dream reality.
2012
1st Overall, Tour de Wallonie
1st Stage 3, Tour de Wallonie
1st Stage 5, Eneco Tour
1st Points Classification, Eneco Tour
2nd Prologue, Tour de Romandie
3rd Vattenfall Cyclassics
3rd Stage 9, Giro d’Italia
2011
1st Stage 5, Bayern Rundfahrt
2nd Stage 4, Volta a Catalunya
2nd Stage 3, Ster ZLM Toer
2nd ProRace Berlin
YAROSLAV POPOVYCH
PALMARES
There is one rider with an impenetrable passion that spanned his
decorated career, a fighter and hard man extraordinaire he has
become the ultimate team player – and all with his crazy humor
shining through. Yaroslav “Popo” Popovich, despite his accomplished
palmarès, changed his mind-set a few years ago to that of superdomestique, after being hailed as one of the most promising cyclists
at the turn of the century. Today his pride is to ride for others. His
immense devotion to the team is evident in every race he lines up in.
Often he is the rider leading the peloton for the first 150 kilometers.
2012
3rd Stage 4, Giro del Trentino
5th Stage 21, Giro d’Italia
A native of Ukraine he now resides in Italy. He speaks seven
languages, all learned “from the table”, the result of living with
numerous nationalities over the years and having a good ear for
language. He does not get nervous for races anymore with the
exception of Paris Roubaix, his continuing nemesis to finish without
crashing. There is one race that still gives him goosebumps every
time: entering the Champs Elysees on the final day of the Tour de
France.
Popo will ride as long as he is able – not wanting to number his
remaining years. Simply, he loves what he does and foresees no need
to stop. With such unwavering dedication and dogged determination,
it’s impossible to know when this affable Ukrainian will hang up his
wheels – if ever.
2008
3rd Overall, Paris-Nice
2007
1st Stage 5, Paris-NIce
2006
3rd Overall, Tour of Georgia
1st Stage 2, Tour of Georgia
1st Stage 2, Vuelta a Castilla y Leon
2005
1st Overall, Volta a Catalunya
2004
5th Overall, Giro d’Italia
2003
3rd Overall, Giro d’Italia
GREGORY RAST
PALMARES
Swiss rider Gregory Rast is the quintessential domestique.
Considered the right-hand man to Fabian Cancellara – they have
know each other since their Junior years - his sole ambition for 2014
is to have a Classics season like last. For Gregory, that means being
one hundred percent ready in the spring to help the team. It is the
selfless teammates like Gregory on Trek Factory Racing that shine
brightly behind the scene - they are an integral part of the success
yet hardly receive the fanfare and glory they deserve.
2013
Gregory was introduced to cycling by his godfather when he was
15. He was heavy into soccer and admittedly not very good. His
godfather, who was the president of the local cycling club at the time,
presented him with a bicycle and soccer was soon forgotten.
2011
4th Paris - Roubaix
Gregory finished fourth in Paris-Roubaix (2011), has twice been
crowned Swiss National Champion, and won a stage of the Tour de
Suisse last year, taking the win from a breakaway. His large, powerful
build coupled with his vast experience in races like the Classics
formed him into a highly cherished teammate.
2012
2nd Prologue, Tour of Luxembourg
8th Olympic Games, Road
11th Tour of Flanders
13th Paris - Roubaix
2010
3rd Prologue, Tour of Luxembourg
2009
1st Prologue, Tour of Luxembourg
1st Points Classification, Tour de Romandie
2007
1st Overall, Tour of Luxembourg
2006
2004
HAYDEN ROULSTON
PALMARES
Although rugby was the sport Hayden Roulston played until he was
16 – and he fantasizes he would be an All-Black if he never made
it as a professional cyclist – cycling is where he excelled. When he
was young he made the switch from BMX to track cycling when
he saw his mate winning three dollars while he was merely taking
home a trophy. This was his start into the cycling world where
he went on to achieve incredible results on the track, in both the
World Championships and Olympic Games, and into a successful
professional road career that began in 2003 with the French team,
Cofidis.
2013
However, not all was smooth sailing for Hayden. In 2006, he was
diagnosed with a rare heart condition, which left him short of breath,
pushed his heart rate to dangerous levels, and put him at risk of
dying every time he got on his bike. He was told his cycling career
was finished. Throwing aside traditional medicine for an alternative
remedy Hayden refused to believe he was done; he was back on his
bike within months, and winning the New Zealand National road
championships.
Hayden has a lot of WorldTour experience with teams like Discovery
Channel, Cervelo Test Team, and HTC-Columbia, until finally joining
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek in 2012. His biggest results have come via
the track, winning two medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in the
individual pursuit (silver) and team pursuit (bronze). On the road, his
big engine is a huge asset to the Trek Factory Racing classics’ team.
His best moment for 2013 was the big effort he put in to help Fabian
Cancellara win the Tour of Flanders. It was one of those days where
he felt invincible; when he climbed off the bike he knew he had put in
a monstrous ride for the team - an unforgettable feeling.
2011
1st National Road Race Champion
2010
1st Overall, Tour of Southland
1st Stage 6, Tour of Denmark
3rd Stage 4, Bayern Rundfahrt
2nd Commonwealth Games, Road
4th Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne
2009
2nd Stage 7, Tour of California
3rd Stage 14, Tour de France
ANDY SCHLECK
PALMARES
Andy Schleck is the younger of the Schleck brothers by five years,
but equally impressive as Fränk on the bike. With the same build
and similar cycling strengths to his brother, Andy already lays claim
to winning the Tour de France, albeit retroactively after Alberto
Contador was stripped of the title in 2010. His desire is to win it
proper – wearing yellow and crossing the finish line on ChampsÉlysées - and to feel the emotions of the moment, a lost experience
four years ago.
2011
2nd Overall, Tour de France
3rd Liège-Bastogne-Liège
For 2014, Andy plans to boomerang back from an unimaginable
roller-coaster journey after fracturing his sacrum in June 2012. The
reunion with his brother on Trek Factory Racing may be the missing
ingredient from last season to elevate Andy back to his previous
form. There is no doubt the duo share a special bond: Andy won his
first professional race at the Tour of Saxony the same day Fränk won
the Alpe d’Huez stage, plus they finished together on the podium of
the Tour de France in 2011 - Andy in second, Fränk in third – the first
time siblings have ever managed this feat; and both are expecting
babies in the spring – within five weeks of each other.
When Andy is not on the bike training with Fränk he can be found
fishing – he boasts to have landed a Pike of 1m 13cms - or walking his
dogs in the forest. He lives a modest lifestyle in Mondorf-les-Bains,
the town where he grew up, Fränk a mere 200 meters down the road.
2010
1st Overall, Tour de France
2009
1st Liège Bastogne Liège
2nd Overall, Tour de France
1st Young Rider Classification, Tour de France
2nd La Flèche Wallonne
2007
2nd Overall, Giro d’Italia
2005
FRÄNK SCHLECK
PALMARES
The elder of cycling’s acclaimed brothers, Fränk Schleck
returns to the team deeply motivated and ready to
rebound to the form he flourished in 2011. Returning
after a year’s suspension - a penalty he considered too
harsh for involuntary contamination of a banned product
– he’s ready to put the past behind him and focus on the
future. Fränk will join his brother Andy once again on
the Trek Factory Racing team, for them this was not a
hard decision. The two siblings were brought up with
strict orders from their dad to never, ever race against
each other, the consequence being no food - quite the
punishment for two highly energetic, growing boys – and
to this day they cannot fathom racing apart. As a pair,
undeniably, they are stronger.
2012
2nd Overall, Tour de Suisse
3rd Overall, Tour of Luxembourg
Amongst Fränk’s impressive palmarès are a first at the
Amstel Gold race in 2006, and winning the coveted
Alpe d’ Huez stage at the Tour de France that same
year. His stage race victories include winning the Tour
of Luxembourg in 2009 and the Tour de Suisse in 2010.
Fränk is also four times Luxembourg National Champion
and has countless podiums in other major races, the
biggest a third overall in the 2011 Tour de France.
2010
1st Overall, Tour de Suisse
1st Stage 3, Tour de Suisse
5th Overall, Vuelta a España
Fränk welcomes the pressure that comes with being
one of the leaders of the team and is not afraid to take
control and direct the team in his drive to regain his
status as one of the top cyclists in the peloton. In his
hiatus, he never stopped fighting; instead he is using
this character-building period to help reconstruct his
future and turning his anger into a positive force to
come back stronger than ever.
2011
3rd Overall, Tour de France
1st Overall, Critérium International
1st Stage 1, Critérium International
2nd Liège Bastogne Liège
2009
1st Overall, Tour of Luxembourg
1st Stage 8, Tour of California
2nd Ovreall, Paris-Nice
5th Overall, Tour de France
2008
3rd Liège-Bastogne-Liège
2nd Amstel Gold Race
2006
1st Amstel Gold Race
2005
3rd Tour of Lombrady
1st National Champion, Road
JESSE SERGENT
PALMARES
Jesse first learned his trade on a chip-sealed cycling track - the same
rough, unforgiving material that lay on New Zealand roads - with a
rugby field consuming the center. The track was located at the end of
his street, and at age 12 he first watched, then flirted in a few races,
ignoring the pull of the far more popular sport, rugby. He was hooked.
By age 20, he was a bronze medalist at the Beijing Olympic games in
the team pursuit. The following year he joined the Trek-Livestrong’s
under-23 development team and by the end of the 2010 season he
joined Team RadioShack as a stagiaire. He signed a professional
contract for Radioshack in 2011.
2013
3rd Stage 5, Eneco Tour of Benelux
3rd Stage 4, Tour of the Algrave
Jesse’s strength is the time trial, and he tends to do better at the
shorter distances with his track background. Despite his long and
lanky frame he is not a climber, instead he will line up once again
with the Classics team. His most memorable moment of 2013 was
helping Fabian Cancellara win Paris-Roubaix, and he will never forget
sitting on the bus after the race with the infamous cobblestone
trophy.
2011
1st Overall, Three Days of West Flanders
1st Prologue, Three Days of West Flanders
1st Stage 4, Eneco Tour
1st Overall, Tour du Poitou-Charentes
2nd Stage 7, Tour of Austria
One of his most decisive wins was his first WorldTour victory in
stage four of the Eneco Tour, where he bested an all-star field in the
individual time trial. Jesse would love to get back to the top of the
podium for 2014. However, his first objective is to repeat the great
results the team had last year in the Classics.
2010
1st Prologue, Cascade Cycling Classic
1st Stage 3, Tour of the Gila
2nd World Track Championships, Individual Pursuit
2012
2nd Overall, Three-Days of West-Flanders
3rd Olympic Games, Team Pursuit
2009
3rd World Track Championships, Team Pursuit
FABIO SILVESTRE
PALMARES
One of the new generation of cyclists Trek Factory Racing is building
is 24-year-old Fabio Silvestre. He came to cycling late at the age
of 16, but started winning races immediately. He was part of the
continental Leopard Trek team the past two years, showing his
potential by winning the overall in the Belgium race Tryptique des
Monts et Châteaux and a stage of the Tour of Normandy last year.
He’s a sprinter that also excels in the time trial, and has won both the
road and time trial at the Portugal U23 National Championships.
2013
1st Overall, Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux
1st Stage 4, Ronde de l’Oise
1st Stage 4, Circuit des Ardennes
1st Stage 1, Tour of Normandy
His reticent, nice-guy demeanor contradicts his fierce ability as a
fighter on the bike. He has the attributes needed to become a good
sprinter and enters his first WorldTour team with eyes and ears wide
open to learn all he can. In 2012, he finished a respectable fourth
in Paris-Tours Espoirs; a result that shows he is capable of a great
future in professional cycling.
2012
2nd Stage 1, Giro del Friuli
4th Paris-Tours U23
2010
1st U23 National Championships, TT
1st U23 National Championships, Road
3rd Overall, Tour of Alentejo
JASPER STUYVEN
PALMARES
He was junior world champion in 2009, won Paris-Roubaix Juniors
the subsequent year, and followed that with a second place in
his first Paris-Roubaix Espoirs in 2011. He continued to add to his
impressive palmarès with a third in Liège-Bastogne-Liège Espoirs.
He had previous offers to move up to the big league but turned them
down, deciding to take the slow, calculated route to the top. At 21,
this type of measured approach - resisting temptations of money
and prestige - shows maturity beyond years. There is no doubt that
Jasper Stuyven has a bright future in professional cycling.
2013
1st Overall, Tour of Alentejo
1st Stage 2, Tour of Alentejo
1st Stage 1, Tour de Beauce
3rd Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23
Jasper, born and raised in Belgium, joins the team from the Bontrager
Cycling team, the number one development team in the United
States. He feels now he is ready to make the jump from the U23
ranks; he is eager to learn all he can from Fabian Cancellara and the
other Classics specialists of the team. Jasper has a strong race sense
and admits part of that is from his personality, part from growing up
in the fanatic cycling culture of Belgium.
Last year his greatest victory was the Tour of Alentejo in Portugal
where he won the second stage and claimed the overall. He credits
his team with working their butts off for him, an emotional and
memorable victory for the young Belgian. He balances his cycling
life with studying; self-educating himself in sales management. He
continues to live and train in Leuven, Belgium.
2012
1st Provincial Championships, Road
2011
2nd Paris-Roubaix U23
2010
1st Paris-Roubaix Juniors
3rd World Junior Championships, Road
2009
1st World Junior Championships, Road
BOY VAN POPPEL
PALMARES
Boy is the eldest son and older brother of four years to Danny and
has always looked out for his younger sibling. Last year in the Tour de
France he crashed out within the first week and was very upset – not
because he was out of the Tour, but because he no longer was there
to help his brother. Boy’s specialty is sprinting from a break, or after
a very tough race, and leading out his brother. The brotherly bond is
so strong between the two that a win for Danny feels like a victory
for himself.
2013
4th Overall, Tour Down Under
Boy began his career with the Rabobank Continental team in 2006.
In 2011, he joined UnitedHealthcare in the United States for two
years. Although he enjoyed living and racing in America, he felt it
was not the right team at the right moment, and he jumped at the
opportunity to return to Europe with Vacansoleil-DCM for 2013. He
won the Junior World Cyclocross Championships. He won a stage at
the former Tour of Missouri race, besting sprinters Mark Cavendish
and Tyler Farrar. Last year he was sixth in Hamburg, a prominent
race in Germany. There’s no doubt at age 26 he’s still blossoming.
When not on the bike he can be found raising his 10 Koi fish in his
backyard pond – an unusual hobby but somehow seemingly fitting
for the quiet, soft-spoken Dutch cyclist. He would love to win a race
in 2014 - any race - as he has been knocking on the door far too
many times. Then again, if his brother were to do so, that would be
just as sweet.
2012
2nd Stages 1, 8, Tour of Britain
2nd Stage 10, Tour of Portugal
3rd Stage 2, Three Days of De Panne
2011
5th Ronde van Drenthe
2010
1st Kreiz Breizh Elites
DANNY VAN POPPEL
PALMARES
The younger, gregarious sibling to Boy van Poppel, and the youngest
son of renowned sprinter and former professional Jean-Paul van
Poppel, Danny was signed by Trek Factory Racing after the demise
of pro team Vacansoleil-DCM following the 2013 season. The two
brothers will remain together as they were last year, keeping the
strong sibling bond intact – something that is fundamental to both
Danny and Boy.
2013
3rd Stage 1, Tour de France
2nd Stage 2, Tour of Belgium
2nd Prologue, Tour of Luxembourg
3rd Handzame Classic
5th Ronde van Drenthe
Nicknamed “bambino” last year Danny, then 19, raced his first Tour
de France and sprinted to a third place finish in the first stage and
claiming the white young riders jersey. It was a big moment for the
budding Dutch cyclist, the youngest participant in the Tour de France
since World World II.
2012
1st Stages 1,4, Thüringen Rundfahrt U23
1st Stage 1, Vuelta a Leon
Danny first started cycling – and racing – at age seven following in
his older brother’s footsteps. He prefers flat parcours, which suits his
pure sprinter ability. His favorite races are the Classics of Milan-San
Remo and Flanders, and his dream is to one day be on top of the
podium at the Tour of Flanders. Danny still lives at home with his
mother and sister, residing in Belgium but training in the Netherlands.
His brother, needless to say, lives only one kilometer away.
KRISTOF VANDEWALLE
PALMARES
One of the new additions to the Trek Factory Racing team
arriving from Omega Pharma-Quick Step is Belgian cyclist Kristof
Vanderwalle. He felt the move to Trek Factory Racing would give him
the opportunity to grow further as a cyclist and renew his motivation
and enthusiasm. He is a time trial specialist that has won the Belgian
National TT Championships in 2012 and 2013. He was also part of
the World Championship winning TTT Omega Pharma-Quick Step
squad the past two seasons.
2013
1st World Championships, TTT
1st Overall, Three Days of West Flanders
1st Prologue, Three Days of West Flanders
Unlike most, Kristof entered the sport lacking dreams of making it
as a professional. He dabbled in soccer in his youth until a knee
injury forced him onto the bicycle for rehabilitation. Throughout
his junior years cycling was still a hobby and he continued to focus
on his education. He studied commercial engineering at Leuven
University - hitting the books even through his first two years as a
professional - and obtained his degree. In his final year as U23, he
won a stage of the prestigious Tour de l’Avenir, quite a feat while
studying full-time.
Kristof, 28, knows he is still improving and welcomes the freedom
with Trek Factory Racing team to further advance his abilities.
Known as a relentless team player he can also tackle hilly parcours.
He prefers small stage races, and his dream would be to win a UCI
WorldTour race such as Paris-Nice.
2012
1st World Championships, TTT
2010
1st Grosser Preis des Kantons Aargau
2007
1st Stage 3, Tour de l’Avenir
JENS VOIGT
PALMARES
Arguably the most popular cyclist in the pro peloton - one
who strikes a chord with fans worldwide with his aggressive
racing style balanced with his humor and affable style of
dealing with the media and public - is Jens Voigt. He is
renowned for his whimsical quotes, the most famous being
“Shut up legs.” Jens eschews the image of the stereotypical
professional cyclist in every way. With six children at home
ranging in ages 18 to three his endless energy, positive
attitude and work ethic has not waned. In addition, his
ability to relate to his fans - allowing them glimpses of his
normal life, to see he is a dad same as all dads worldwide is atypical behavior of contemporary sporting stars.
2013
He will start the 2014 season with the mindset that it will be
his last. His professional career spanning 16 years with his
first victory the overall in the Peace Race in 1994. Since then,
some of his biggest victories have included three stages in
the Tour de France, one in the Giro d’Italia, five times overall
winner of the Critérium International, and two times the
Tour of Germany. It was his first stage win in the 2001 Tour
de France that he remembers as one of his best. Claiming
the overall in the Tour of Germany (2006) was also a
special moment for Jens; it was in front of his home country
and a race no one thought he was capable of winning.
Without doubt one of the best rouleurs the sport has ever
seen Jens is a breakaway specialist capable of repeating
attacks and tirelessly working day after day for his
teammates. He is known to animate races; sitting in the
peloton for an entire race, or even part of a race, is not his
forte. As his career winds to a close, he has one personal
challenge for 2014: to keep his streak alive of at least one
victory in each season he has raced. He would love to make
that 17 for 17.
2012
1st Stage 4, USA Pro Cycling
Challenge
2010
2009
1st Stage 2, Critérium International
2008
1st Overall, Tour of Poland
1st Stage 18, Giro d’Italia
2007
1st Overall, Deutschland Tour
2nd Overall, Tour of California
2006
1st Overall, Deutschland Tour
2005
2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège
2004
2001
1999
CALVIN WATSON
PALMARES
Calvin Watson is a 21-year old Australian neo pro, a product of
the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) program that has churned
out numerous world-class cyclists including Cadel Evans, and he
is blown away to be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Jens Voigt,
the Schlecks and Fabian Cancellara. He won the Herald Sun Tour
in January 2013 on his 20th birthday, the victory that changed
everything. He is ambitious. Grateful. Humble. And tall: he boasts
the longest legs and highest seat height on the team.
2013
1st Overall, Jayco Herald Sun Tour
2nd Stage 1, Internationale Thüringen-Rundfahrt U23, GER (2.2U)
3rd U23 National Championships, Road
Calvin’s signing with a WorldTour team may have been a surprise
for many outside of Australia but his decisive win in the 2013 Jayco
Herald Sun Tour followed by his aggressive racing in the Tour Down
Under was enough for Trek Factory Racing to tout his services as
they strive to build a future with the new generation of cyclists. The
overall win at the Herald Sun Tour was an emotional, sweet victory
for Calvin since he had just been dropped from the AIS under-23
development squad for the 2013 season. His poise to have such a
major setback then bounce back to win the first race of the season is
a mark of a true fighter.
Calvin points to mentor Simon Gerrans of Orica-GreenEDGE as
someone who has helped him tremendously. He has modest goals
for the 2014 season: learn, develop and gain experience with no
visions to win a race as he feels that is unrealistic at this moment in
his cycling career. With a preference for shorter, steeper climbs he
has not fully discerned his cycling strengths, but with youth on his
side he will have many opportunities ahead to figure that out.
2011
1st U19 Oceania Championships, Road
1st Overall, Tour du Valromey (Junior)
2nd Trofeo comune di Vertova (Junior)
3rd Stage 1, Giro Internazionale della Lunigiana (Junior)
RICCARDO ZOIDL
PALMARES
In 2013 Riccardo “Ricky” Zoidl gave himself one more year to prove
he has the talent to become a professional cyclist. He showed
sparks in the past, including winning the Austrian National time
trial championship in 2012 and placing second in the National Road
Championship in 2011, but for 2013, he gave himself an ultimatum:
make it pro or it’s back to school. He needed to start thinking about
his future, and it was now or never.
2013
1st Overall, UCI Europe Tour
1st Overall, Tour of Austria
1st Overall, Tour de Bretagne
1st stage 2, Tour de Bretagne
1st Overall, Oberösterreichrundfahrt
1st Stages 2, 3, Oberösterreichrundfahrt
1st Raiffeisen Grand Prix
1st Croatia–Slovenia
It turned out to be a breakthrough year for the 25-year-old Austrian
cyclist, winning the overall in the UCI Europe Tour, donning the
Austrian road national champion jersey and topping everything by
winning the overall at the Tour of Austria – a win that would turn
heads amongst WorldTour teams in attendance. Ricky himself was
surprised to achieve such a huge result and for 2014, wants to prove
this was no fluke.
He is ready to learn all he can, working hard for his teammates along
the way, but like a true rising champion Ricky desires to have the
chance for himself in one or two races. His calm disposition mirrors
his racing style - a rarity in such a young and inexperienced cyclist –
and together with his extraordinary climbing and time trialing ability
Riccardo Zoidl is certainly one of the bright stars that Trek Factory
Racing is building for the future.
2012
1st National Championships,TT
3rd Overall, Oberösterreichrundfahrt
1st stage 3, Oberösterreichrundfahrt
S2011
1st Overall, Tobago Cycling Classic
1st Stages 1, 5, Sibiu Cycling Tour
HAIMAR ZUBELDIA
PALMARES
Haimar Zubeldia has conquered the Tour de France an astounding
12 times - finishing four times in the top 10 - and a dream win
would be to round out his career with a stage victory in the famed
event. Hailing from the Basque Country of Northern Spain, Haimar
is invaluable to the team with his selfless commitment as a crucial
support rider to Andy and Fränk Schleck in the mountains and in the
Ardennes classics. When given free rein, Haimar is able to defend
his own GC ambitions. As one of the veteran riders, Haimar will have
plenty of opportunity to pass on his experience and knowledge with
the young contingent the team has acquired.
2012
6TH Overall, Tour de France
8TH Overall, Vuelta a Andalucía - Ruta del Sol
10TH Overall, Bayern - Rundfahrt
10TH Overall, Critérium du Dauphiné
Haimar first turned pro in 1998 with Euskatel- Euskadi where he
remained for 11 years before joining Astana in 2009 and RadioShack
in 2010. He has continued with the team the past four years, and
enjoys the affable atmosphere that exists; with the birth of Trek
Factory Racing it was an easy decision for him to stay with his
“family” away from home.
Haimar spends all his time off the bike with his two daughters and
wife. He lives near teammate Markel Irizar, who is like a younger
brother, and the two can often be found training together.
2011
7TH Clásica Ciclista San Sebastián
2010
1ST Overall, Tour de l’Ain
1ST Prologue, Tour de l’Ain
4TH Clásica Ciclista San Sebastián
4TH GP de Montréal
2009
3RD Overall, Volta a Catalunya
2007
2006
2004
LUCA GUERCILENA, GENERAL MANAGER
KIM ANDERSEN, DIRECTOR
In 2012, Luca Guercilena became General Manager, stepping up
from the role of sport director, and without question he is a natural
leader. His philosophy based on transparency has generated respect,
trust, and self-confidence amongst all members; the team has
flourished under his guidance.
Kim Andersen is perhaps even more renowned as a sport director
than he was as a rider. That is not to take away his accomplishments
on the bike - which were numerous - rather that he continued
growing his success post retirement to become one of the best sport
directors in the pro peloton today. Born in Denmark in 1958, he has
lived most of his life in Luxembourg and helped launch the Leopard
Trek team in 2011. Previous to that he was a sporting director with
CSC and Saxo Bank.
Luca’s humble beginnings began as an amateur cyclist until 1995
when he went on to obtain a degree in sport science at the University
of Milan. From here, he cut his teeth as an athletic trainer and
manager in the Mapei Sport Center, working first with the youth
squad. He coached the development team that included a young
Fabian Cancellara. He continued in the Mapei system for 10 years,
eventually becoming a trainer and sport director for Quick Step in
2003, working closely with renowned Italian cyclist Paolo Bettini. In
2011, he joined Leopard Trek.
His background as both trainer and sport director give him insight
that few other General Managers have. As director of the entire
team - well over 60 members strong - Lucca must have a 360 degree
view at all times. His eyes and ears need be everywhere. He is often
leaving one race to join another, traveling well over 240 days a year.
Although Luca has been General Manager for a scant three years,
he has proven there is none better qualified for the job. Thoroughly
respected by all, his steady hand at the controls has already steered
the team out of troubled waters. Certainly, not all will be smooth
sailing ahead, but there is no doubt with the team that they have the
captain at the helm they want, and trust.
As a rider Kim was the quintessential rouleur and a master of the
long solo breakaway. In 1994, he won Flèche Wallonne solo, after
pulling a nine-man early breakaway. That year he also claimed
second in the Amstel Gold Race. Other notable victories include
stages in the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, plus he has worn
the coveted maillot jaune as leader of the Tour de France for 10 days
total.
Kim retired from racing in 1992, channeling his competitive energy
and race savvy into becoming a highly respected director. He is
a man of few words but knows how to motivate a team with his
deep understanding of cycling. He has a soft spot for teaching and
developing the team’s young talent; for him a special and beautiful
moment was watching the young talent Bob Jungels win his first
professional race with the team last year.
ADRIANO BAFFI, DIRECTOR
Adriano Baffi returns to the team as sport director after two years
with the succesful Leopard Trek Continental team - and he is happy
to be back. Adriano is one of the best sprinters of his time with
70 wins to his name, including six stages of the Giro d’Italia. The
last four years of his career, from 1999-2002, were spent with
Mapei-Quick Step, the dominating team at that time. It was also
with Mapei-Quick Step that Fabian Cancellara made his start as a
stagiaire, and the young Spartacus remembers his introduction was
not easy. He recounts how Adriano, who was training far less at the
time, had little problem in dropping him on training rides.
Adriano retired in 2002 from Mapei Quick Step just as Cancellara’s
career was taking off. He jumped into directing soon afterwards,
working with numerous UCI Pro teams in addition to the Italian
Cycling Federation. He loves nothing more than teaching and wants
to “give back” all the experiences he has had during his illustrious
career.
Adriano’s gentle, calm persona is one of his biggest assets. He
admits sprinting has changed a lot since his glory days, but the
fundamentals have remained the same: he still teaches the critical
skill of how to prepare for the sprint. Unquestionably, there is no one
better qualified to help guide the young sprint team of Trek Factory
Racing than this Italian sprinting legend.
DIRK DEMOL, DIRECTOR
ALAIN GALLOPIN, DIRECTOR
Dirk Demol was a professional rider for 14 years, his specialty
being the “Races of the North”. He won the 1988 edition of ParisRoubaix in spectacular fashion: he was part of an early breakaway
that succeeded 222 kilometers to the finish. Retiring from cycling
in 1995, he went on to direct the top amateur U23 team in Belgium
where he helped mold a young Tom Boonen and Stijn Devolder. Dirk
is especially proud of his work with Stijn. He helped Stijn gain the
confidence he needed to win the Tour of Flanders, and to this day it is
one of Dirk’s fondest memories.
It was Alain’s Gallopin’s mother who pushed him to pursue the
job of a cycling sport director. It was a time when Alain was at a
crossroad in his life. He had been Laurent Fignon’s personal masseur
for 10 years, but Laurent had just hung up the bike and Alain had to
decide what to do next. He felt he was well suited for the job of sport
director, but hesitated to join his brother on a small French team.
Dirk began his sport director career with the United States Postal
Service team in 1999, but the only English he knew was “yes”, “no”,
and “I love you”. He was given four months to learn the language which he did – and spent the next years working with the American
team. In the years that followed he directed for Discovery Channel,
Quick Step, and Astana before joining RadioShack.
He is a director that has a genuine feel for working with different
personalities; he knows how to motivate the team and get the
best out of each rider. Dirk was conducive in helping guide Fabian
Cancellara to his victory in Paris-Roubaix last season, a win that
seemed impossible under the circumstances. Agreeably one of the
best for leading a team in the Classics, Dirk will again be at the helm
this Spring.
JOSU LARRAZABAL, DIRECTOR
As the official trainer of the team, Josu Larrazabal is also second
sport director in many races during the season. Previously, he
spent six years with UCI Pro Team Euskaltel –Euskadi before joining
RadioShack Leopard Trek last year. Josu is the personal training
coach to 10 riders of Trek Factory Racing and is responsible for the
physical testing of the entire team at the various training camps
throughout the year. He is often called Mr. SRM, referring to the
power meter that the team uses in racing and training to measure
their work output.
Like most, Josu began cycling at an early age in his native Basque
country, but realized quickly that he did not have the talent to go
further and turned to school. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in
Physical Education and Sport High Performance, finishing his final
year in Italy to gain international flavor and a broader spectrum. He
immediately began working with junior cyclists in Spain, and joined
Euskatel Continental team the following year for one season. From
2007-2012, he worked with the UCI Pro team Euskaltel-Euskadi.
Josu, 32, brings a fresh approach to the team and helps bridge
the balance between old school and contemporary perspectives.
Recently married, he currently resides in Madrid with his wife.
Alain was very close to his mother, and her last words to him
changed everything. ‘You will be a good director’, she told him. ‘Go
with your brother. You can make it to the top and direct the best
riders in the world because you are meant for this.’ Alain’s mother,
who was ill, passed away shortly afterwards. Alain listened.
In his first year, Alain was a natural. The first thing he did was sign
the infamous Irish cyclist Sean Kelly to the team. The following
year he joined UCI Pro team Française des Jeux, and never looked
back. Alain is calm, gentle, but firm and considers himself a stickler
for time. He has worked with some of the best cyclists in the world
including Jan Ulrich, Bjarne Riis, Alberto Contador and Lance
Armstrong. Alain is a Tour de France specialist, having attended the
prestigious race 22 times, and has come to know all its intricacies from the terrain, weather, and roads to the entire organization.
The youngest of the Gallopin brothers, all of whom were professional
cyclists, Alain’s competitive cycling career was cut short by a serious
injury. He decided to go to school for physiotherapy in order to
continue within cycling in some dimension. Alain was a successful
masseur for many years before the pull of what he does best - that
of sport director - got the better of him. His brothers went on to
have fruitful cycling careers and today his nephew Tony Gallopin, a
professional rider with RadioShack Leopard Trek last year, continues
on the family cycling heritage.

eugenio alafaci

Transcription

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