Bobbie Traksel confirmed for Pegasus Racing
28-year-old Bobbie Traksel has confirmed that he will be making the jump from Vacansoleil to the new Australian team Pegasus Racing. He was among a number of names speculated for the transfer earlier this week, including Robert Hunter, Daryl Impey and Jeremy
Hunt.
Traksel described his new team as being, "...much more professionally designed that what I'm used to. In November, I'm going to do some wind tunnel testing to optimize my position. Also, the shoes for every rider [on the team] are custom fit, instead of
the standard products that ever cycling tourist can buy."
Traksel will be bringing a vast amount of Belgian Classics experience to the Australian team, where he expects to be directing the Australian cyclists into new territory. The Dutch rider is the latest in a highly successful acquisition campaign aimed at
earning the Pegasus Racing Team, built on the foundations of Fly V Australia, a ProTour license. The Chris White-managed team, if all goes according to plan, will be the first ever Australian ProTour team.
“It’s the combination of love and experience of the sport coupled with my background in large businesses that’s enabling me to springboard into organising a team at this level,” explained White.
His long-time friendship with Robbie McEwen helped him sign the veteran Australian cyclist. With over 200 career victories, McEwen has been, possibly, the biggest signing for the team, but other major riders including Svein Tuft and Christian Knees have
also joined the team to beef up its athletics requirement. Reportedly, quadruple time-trial World Champion, Fabian Cancellara, seems to be in White’s sights as well.
“Robbie was a very important signing for us, not just because he’s still a winner – as we saw at the Eneco Tour just a few weeks ago – but because he’s been such a great ambassador for Australian cycling with three Tour de France green jerseys and 200 wins,”
said White. “So [he's] not just as a winning rider; [he's] a mentor, road captain and coach, too.”
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