Accent.Jobs-Verandas Willems rider, Leif Hoste, hopeful to land on the podium again
The Belgian professional rider, Leif Hoste, is looking forward to a pain-free season and recently signed a one-year contract with the Dutch professional team, Accent.Jobs-Verandas Willems, for the 2012 season on Wednesday.
34-year-old, Hoste started his career in 1998 and was with Team Katusha in the most recent season.
He was supposed to continue with Team Katusha in the next season but a serious accident in the Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde, held at the end of March, finished all his hopes and plans.
He encountered a terrible crash where he landed on his head and ended up with more serious injuries.
Although he still had a year’s contract with Katusha team but it was declared invalid with the mutual consent of both the parties.
He then planned to join Lotto Belisol, but decided to sign the contract with Accent.jobs-Verandas Willems instead.
According to Belga news agency, “There shone a certain cozy warmth from the team management. After our conversation, I immediately called my manager stating that I had found my new home. I feel 100 percent at ease here,” the rider said.
Hoste added, "I hope I can live up to team leader status with my new team. I already have a very good eye. The spring races are my main aim and I will surely show myself. The ambition is to return to the podium of the Tour of Flanders but I also want to
do well in other races. I want to show that I am certainly not written off".
His career highlights include winning the third stage of Tour de Wallonie 2000. In 2001, the 34-year-old won his first Belgian National Time Trial Championships.
While he continued his efforts, Hoste grabbed the runner-up’s spot in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and the third position in GP Eddy Merckx in 2003.
Hoste secured the overall third place in Eneco Tour of Benelux 2005 and retained his Belgian National title in 2006.
He enjoyed a successful season in 2006, where he won the first and the fourth stage of
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hoste-crashes-out-of-three-days-of-de-panne and also took the overall standing.
Only time will tell if Hoste will continue his winning streak in the coming season, with his new team, Accent.Jobs-Verandas Willems.
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