Team Sunweb welcome Asbjørn Kragh Andersen and Jan Bakelants
17 October 2018 11:21
Team Sunweb are pleased to welcome 32-year-old Belgian Jan Bakelants to their men’s WorldTour program for the 2019 season. Bakelants brings versatile qualities and experience to the team. Throughout the 10-years as a pro rider he has completed 12 Grand Tours and added six victories to his palmares. He is valuable across different terrains and complements the team’s ambitions for 2019.Bakelants said: “I’m really happy to be joining Team Sunweb. From the conversations we’ve had since early 2018, it has become clear that Team Sunweb is a genuine team who use science to maximize the potential of its riders. It will be a new challenge that I will grasp with both hands, after a difficult 2018 season following my Lombardy crash at the end of last year. I’m really looking forward to becoming a part of the team, it feels like a new start to me.”Team Sunweb coach Marc Reef (NED) said: “Jan brings a wealth of experience to the team with his diverse capabilities. We believe that he will strengthen our program with a steady high level throughout the season and he will be able to share his experience with our younger guys. His team spirit is a characteristic that is extremely valued by us. With his qualities as a rider he will provide important support in the hilly classics and grand tours, and play a captain role in races.”Asbjørn Kragh Andersen (DEN)26-year-old Asbjørn Kragh Andersen joins Team Sunweb for the 2019 season. At Team Sunweb the talented Dane will be reunited with younger brother, Søren. He has taken two professional victories during his career, with stage wins at both Tour des Fjords and Szlakiem Grodòw Piastowskich. In 2018 he continued to thrive with top results with Tour du Loir, Circuit des Ardennes International, Tour de Normandie and the Croatian races early in the season. His capacities as a rider will bring value to the team in the spring classics and sprint preparation.Kragh Andersen said: “I’m really looking forward to my WorldTour debut with Team Sunweb. The direction and the ways in which the team work are exactly the ways that I also like to work and I feel like I’ll fit into the team. Everything is in control but there is still enough room to try new things, to excel and make improvements across the board. I like the spring classics and also the short, punchy climbs. I can do a good sprint and lead out and hope to bring good value to that aspect of the team.”Team Sunweb coach Marc Reef (NED) said: “We’ve had Asbjørn on our radar for quite some time now and we’re pleased to welcome him to the team. He brings support for the classics and also adds value to our sprint train. We aim to develop these two qualities to enable him to reach top level. His mentality to perform as a team and the positive energy he brings are important values to us and will for sure make us stronger. We are looking forward to the new season with Asbjørn.”.read full article
