Koos Moerenhout Rides in his last Tour and Stef Clement Signs On
The contenders of the 2010 Tour de France had their second rest day on July 21st in Pau, which also hosted rest days in 2007 and 2008. The riders had the chance to relax between the two climbs of the dreaded Tourmalet, which appears twice in the 97th edition to celebrate 100 years since its first inclusion. Dutch team Rabobank gave in to the atmosphere of 2011 speculation and announced changes in the team: Stef Clement signed a 12-month contract extension, and Koos Moerenhout announced his retirement at the end of this season.
Moerenhout followed Christophe Moreau’s example. The Frenchman held a small press conference on the first rest day to announce his retirement. If anything, Moreau’s announcement re-invigorated him, and he went from being an unambitious peloton rider in the first half of the Tour to being a major force in the Pyrenees. Moreau will end his last Tour de France as the second-best climber in the race, 15 points behind Anthony Charteau, the polka-dot jersey wearer, and 36 points ahead of Jerome Pineau, the original "King of the Mountains."
36 year-old Moerenhout is perhaps planning a similar flourish in the final sprint stages, and has evoked karma to provide it for him. His major achievements have been during his second tenure with team Rabobank, the team he started with in 1996 and eventually returned to in 2007. He was the Dutch National Road Champion in 2007 and 2009, and will continue to serve the team in public relations and communications after his retirement.
"I have been thinking about this for a while, but now it is definite," Moerenhout said. "That is of course awesome to be able to help bring the races closer to the local banks and the public, when everybody has seen that bike racing is alive in the Netherlands." Moerenhout referred to the major turnout for the Tour de France start in Rotterdam, in his home country. "We have a nice period coming up with a group of very talented riders," he added.
Moerenhout's career is drawing to an end, but he plans to do some final races of the season after the Tour, as a nightcap to his 15-year professional career. He made his name as a faithful domestique ever since he won the Circuit Franco-Belge in his first professional career, and now he intends to spread the popularity of cycling in Netherlands and surrounding countries, through clinics and publicity funded by Rabobank.
Clement has a future with Team Rabobank
Stef Clement will ride with Rabobank for at least another year, and the cyclist, who could not perform in the Tour de France this year, is glad the team still has faith in him even though the Dutch contender has been nurturing foot and back injuries
"My recovery is still lasting a while, so it is good to know that the team stands behind you, not only in good times and when you win, but also when things are against you,” said Clement. "I will be doing everything I can to become injury-free and then I will still show some nice things."
The season isn’t over yet for the rehabilitating rider. He rode with the Rabobank Continental before he turned professional in 2006 and joined Bbox Bouygues Telecom. He re-joined his homeland team in 2009, bringing his time-trial expertise to their benefit.
Clement was the Dutch time-trial champion three times and proved his versatility when he took his first stage in the 2009 Dauphiné Libéré, proving to Harold Knebel, the team director, that he deserved their support.
"Clement is a really good racer, we are sure he will be his old self again,” said Knebel. “We will give him the necessary time."
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