Belgian Continental team culls from the ProTour
Tom Stubbe has been announced as the latest new surprise signing to Belgian Continental team Donckers Koffie-Jelly Belly.
The small team signed the 29-year-old Belgian rider from ProTour team Omega Pharma-Lotto. Stubbe had competed with the team for two years after spending one year with French ProTour team FDJ.
In 2006, he finished on the final podium at the Tour de l’Avenir.
The Continental team has managed several unexpected signings out of the ProTour peloton, Stubbe being the most recent. Donckers Koffie hired Ricardo Van Der Velde and Huub Duyn out of team Garmin-Transitions and also picked up Kurt Hovelynck and Kevin Hulsmans
from the team Quick Step.
“There are two main reasons for my move,” said Hulsmans to Velonation.
“Firstly, I will move to the fore as a leader in this team, because I still cherish the ambition to win races. Secondly, I can use my experience to raise the team to a higher level. With sports director and owner, Rudy Donckers, I find moreover a mentor
who has guided me since the start of my career at the cycling school of Neerpelt.”
The experienced 32-year-old, who worked for Tom Boonen throughout his domination of the spring classics and the Tour of Flanders over the last half-decade, has won the Lommel Criterium and taken stages in the Circuit Franco-Belge and the Niedersachsen Rundfahrt.
Hulsmans, who spent his entire career with Patrick Lefevere’s team, is just one of many new riders bringing their experience from the highest level of the sport to the little Belgian Continental team, which looks to be on its way to a big future.
As to which races Donckers Koffie will be invited to next season, thanks to its new lineup, it's anyone's guess.
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