Roger Kluge finds new home in Team NetApp-Endura after being dropped from Team Argos-Shimano
Roger Kluge could not secure any victories during his two-year stay with Team Argos-Shimano and his contract was not extended for 2013 season.
However, the 26-year-old has managed to secure his new season with the newly merged Professional Continental side, Team NetApp-Endura.
Team NetApp-Endura Team Manager Ralp Denk welcomed the new inclusion in his side and noted that Roger will definitely help the team in strengthening its sprinting department.
“We are delighted to have signed up Roger Kluge to further support our sprint section,” Ralp Denk explained.
“Roger has experience in the UCI WorldTour and was most recently lead-out rider for world class sprinters including Kittel and Degenkolb. His speed makes him ideal for our sprint team".
"Roger was last used in preparing for sprints, but we will now give him the chance to ride on his own account," added Denk.
"We will change his preparations for the season so that, besides competing in a six-day race, he can concentrate fully on the road season," he concluded.
The German started riding professionally with LKT Team Brandenburg in 2008 and stayed with the team through 2009.
He spent a period of one year with Team Milram (2010) before signing a two-year deal with the Dutch side, Team Argos-Shimano.
Kluge is known for his dual abilities to ride on both the road and track racing but his performance graph in the past two seasons has been towards the downside.
His main job in the previous team was to help the team leaders, Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb which confined him from riding for himself.
The 2008 Olympics Silver medalist’s only commendable road performance in the past two seasons includes a third place finish at the Clasica de Almeria 2012.
The 26-year-old has claimed several performances in different categories of the sport but the team was more interested in his performance on the road.
The German is given freedom to continue both his track and road cycling and he is at liberty to set the priorities at his convenience, all through the 2013 season.
Kluge finishes fourth at this year’s London Olympic Games along with a first place finish at the 2011 edition of the Robert Bartko and the Berlin Six-Days 2011.
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