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LATEST NEWS: TEAM LEOPARD TREK ARRIVES
Road Bike Action
January 6, 2011
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Trek Bicycle announced today, along with Luxembourg-based Leopard True Racing, its co-title sponsorship of the formerly unnamed Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project, creating the Leopard Trek cycling team. Featuring brother act Fränk and Andy Schleck, as well as classics king Fabian Cancellara, Leopard Trek will race team-issued Trek Madone and Speed Concept bicycles throughout 2011 and beyond.
After dominating 13 Grand Tours in the past 12 years, Trek’s intimate relationship with professional cycling programs has persistently propelled riders to the pinnacle of their sport. Trek’s Race Department will play an integral role in the foundation of the new team, supplying all Leopard Trek team cycling equipment and serving as day-to-day technical advisors.
“Ultimately we’re driven by the idea that we can make riders go faster,” said Trek’s Race Department Manager, Scott Daubert. “We’ve developed a solid knowledge base that we have continued to build upon and expanded for more than a decade. It’s amazing when you see that work pay off and know that you helped be a catalyst for real, tangible results. It’s why I get up in the morning. It’s what we do best.”
A real sense of confidence surrounds team riders and staff, as they have already begun preparations for the 2011 race calendar, dialing in measurements, making adjustments and getting acclimated to their new equipment.
“Trek is more than just a bike sponsor,” said team leader Fränk Schleck, “they are our partner, our teammate, as important as any rider on the team. They will make us faster.”
Trek Bicycles are sold exclusively through Authorized Trek Retailers. For more information about Trek and to find the Trek Retailer nearest you, visit www.trekbikes.com.
Team Leopard Trek Runs With Bontrager Wheels and Components
Bontrager today confirmed that Team Leopard Trek will be riding aboard Bontrager wheels and accessories throughout the 2011 season. Included in the mix of products that Bontrager will be providing are wheels, handlebars, stems, water bottles and cages. In addition to providing technical direction ranging from race day wheel and component selection to fit and sizing guidance on the team’s Madone and Speed Concept time trial bikes, Bontrager opens riders and mechanics to a vast array of size and spec options that will ensure a precision fit for the team’s entire roster.
The team will employ a variety of Bontrager wheels, a brand that has carried riders to more Grand Tour victories than any other, in training and competition. Bontrager’s Aeolus collection and Race XXX Lite wheels will become the race-to-race workhorse wheels while much of the teams’ training time will be spent on the Bontrager Classic. In addition to competing on Bontrager wheels, Leopard Trek will be assisting Bontrager’s development team with prototype development throughout the year.
“One of the most valuable assets our teams and riders provide us with is unparalleled feedback about the products they compete with. These guys ride more than perhaps anybody else on the planet and have so much invested in the performance of the product. If it can work for them, we know it will work for just about anybody.” Said Trek VP of Product and Marketing Joe Vadeboncoeur.
Bontrager will also provide much of the cockpit for some of the world’s best riders. Team mechanics will have the benefit of utilizing the vast array of sizes and materials that make up the Bontrager handlebar and stem offerings allowing them to dial in the perfect combination given the rider and the particular race. Bontrager’s Race X Lite and carbon Race XXX Lite handlebars and stems will be utilized on Trek’s Madone while Bontrager SC components will appear on Trek’s Speed Concept.
FROM THE TEAM
After more than half a year of solid efforts, including meticulous planning, rider recruitment and rigorous application processes, the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project has finally come to full fruition. The team’s General Manager, Brian Nygaard revealed today to a packed house of media that the much anticipated Luxembourg-based team will be called, Team Leopard- Trek. The official presentation of the team will take place this evening at the Luxembourg Centre National Sportif et Culturel, better known as d'Coque. Nygaard opened the afternoon press conference emphasizing the team’s identity and primary ambition: “We have developed our new team, aiming for a fresh and innovative style. Of utmost importance, though, is to take cycling back to its proper roots: It’s all about the racing”.
Judging by the team’s line-up, there is little doubt that the groundwork has been impeccably laid for a solid inaugural season. “With riders on the roster who can win from the first race of the season to the final, we are looking to be competitive in a lot races.” Nygaard said. “We are not going to win every race, but we are certainly here to make our mark in the biggest events”.
The varied list of talented riders reads like a who’s who for the peloton of the past five years: Daniele Bennati, Fabian Cancellara, Will Clarke, Stefan Denifl, Brice Feillu, Jakob Fuglsang , Linus Gerdemann, Dominic Klemme, Anders Lund, Maxime Monfort, Martin Mortensen, Giacomo Nizzolo, Stuart O'Grady, Martin Pedersen, Bruno Pires, Joost Posthuma, Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck, Tom Stamsnijder, Davide Vigano, Jens Voigt, Robert Wagner, Fabian Wegmann, Wouter Weylandt, and Oliver Zaugg.
“We couldn’t be happier with this group of riders. And I’m sure that racing in our new, beautiful kit they will continue to be an admired group of distinguished athletes. I have a good feeling that they truly will present the right attitude to their fans and to the media.” Nygaard confides.
“The people we have assembled to support the riders are a group that I am equally confident in. I think we have picked just the right people for this project. An important part of these are our Sports Directors who have hands-on experience and a deep intuitive knowledge to guide their athletes with, while simultaneously utilizing a science- based background,” Nygaard believes. With the appointment of Kim Andersen as Team Manager and Luca Guercilena as Sports Director/trainer, it seems a sound ‘one-two punch’ in terms of optimal physical and tactical collaboration with the riders. “Add to this duo, other skilled tacticians and former riders like Lars Michaelsen, Torsten Schmidt, and Adriano Baffi; and we certainly have an exceptional assembly of Sports Directors to guide our young team,” said Nygaard.
The team’s full sponsor line-up was also revealed today, adding the big Luxembourgish energy company Enovos to the list of blue-chip partners like Mercedes-Benz who have already been announced. Enovos is the main provider of natural gas, electricity and services in the greater region around Luxemburg. Leopard-Trek will also enjoy a strong assemblage of cycling-based sponsors, starting foremost with their Trek partnership. “Like Mercedes-Benz in the automobile industry, Trek is a benchmark brand with a history of success that is second to none. I am extremely proud that they will be a title sponsor for us. The riders are delighted to be riding their bikes and we all look forward to a fruitful multi-year partnership,” Nygaard said. Along with Trek, Shimano, Speedplay and Schwalbe will equipe the bikes with state-of-the-art materials. The athletic and performance clothing, including the rider’s custom fit jerseys, will be provided by Craft, while Northwave will be supplying the team footwear. Oakley will be the eyewear sponsor. The team will be outfitted by Day, Birger et Mikkelsen, the Danish lifestyle brand. First Endurance and Science in Sport (SIS) will accommodate the rider’s dietary requirements.
“We couldn’t have hoped for a stronger, more cohesive group of sponsors. We are impressed by each of their industry-unique accomplishments and humbled by their enthusiasm to work with us,” Nygaard said. “In each prospective sponsor, we were seeking a reciprocal relationship that would be beneficial to both sides. Finally, we are completely ready to realize these benefits. We are all keen to hit the road as Team Leopard-Trek.” |
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