Feillu set to join Andersen's new team
On Thursday, French climber Brice Feillu revealed that he has entered a verbal agreement with Kim Andersen to join the Dane's new Luxembourgian team for the 2011 season.
Feillu, the younger brother and Vacansoleil teammate of Romain, only joined the Dutch team this season. Despite his recent arrival, the 25-year-old said he is ready to join the Schleck brothers in the team that has yet to be named.
"I gave them my word, even if I haven't signed yet, and they gave me theirs," Feillu told La Nouvelle Republique
of what he expects to become a two-year deal with Andersen's new formation.
Absent from the 2010 Grand Tours
After winning a stage in last year's Tour de France for French team Agritubel, Vacansoleil's team leader has had a frustrating 2010 season. The team was not invited to any of the Grand Tours, ending Feillu's hopes of claiming further stage wins this year.
"I didn't feel at ease in the team. The disappointment of not doing the Tour was enormous — I was really hit by that for a while. And then, I never had really good legs this season," said Feillu, adding that he lost his motivation for the sport while racing
for Daan Luijkx's team.
"When I joined the team, I was considered as one of the leaders, but because I didn't live up to their expectations, the roles were reversed. In some races, I even didn't have fun anymore."
With Andersen in charge and two-time Tour runner-up Andy Schleck on his new team, Feillu will stand a better chance of starting the most prestigious races next season, even though he will relinquish his position as team leader.
"If I do a good job, then maybe I can play my own cards every now and again. There will always be possibilities. We will be invited to the Grand Tours, and if I can ride two of them, it would be fantastic."
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