Dominique Cornu signs with Pegasus
Dominique Cornu announced via Twitter that he has signed for the new Australian team Pegasus, which officially became a Pro Continental cycling team on Tuesday, November 2.
The Chris White-founded team had made some huge strides toward an application for ProTeam status, the top level in road cycling, and while White is disappointed that they did not make it into the top 20, Pegasus has still stepped up to the professional level.
"There are actually some benefits to us starting as a Pro Continental Team; getting a year under our belt in Europe, and then hopefully moving up to ProTeam level the following year," said White to
Velonation.
"Other teams have successfully used this formula, and we see no reason that we can’t do the same."
The Australian team, built on the foundations of Fly V Australia, has already built a strong Pro lineup including Robbie Hunter, Svein Tuft and one of the sport all-time best sprinters, Robbie McEwen.
This week, the team continues to grow with the signing of Cornu and the hiring of new communications manager Geert Broekhuizen, formerly of the Cervelo TestTeam.
"I talked with him in recent days, and in my opinion, we're set," said Pegasus’ senior sports director, Henrik Redant, of Cornu’s signing.
Cornu won the under-23 World Championships in 2006 before moving to the ProTeam now known as Omega Pharma-Lotto, where he spent two relatively disappointing seasons.
He spent 2009 with QuickStep and moved to Pro Continental team Skil-Shimano in 2010, with whom he finally started to find his form with a stage win and second-place finish in the Tour of Belgium. Pegasus will be the Cornu’s fourth team in as many years.
"We are excited and proud to be the first Australian team to participate in the most important races in the world.
"We are in contact with several major race organizers and we are confident that we will have a great program next year and that we will achieve great things. We are also convinced of the additional value we offer in terms of our vision for the modernization
of cycling and our contribution to globalizing cycling."
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