Team Sky unveils three new signings for 2011
British outfit Team Sky has announced three new signings ahead of the 2011 season.
Colombia's Rigoberto Uran and Spanish climber Xabier Zandio are both joining from Caisse d'Epargne, while Englishman Alex Dowsett joins Sky from Lance Armstrong's U23 team Trek-Livestrong.
"These signings will strengthen our squad even further for our second season on the road," team manager Dave Brailsford said upon announcing the signings. "Rigoberto and Xabier join from Caisse d'Epargne and both should come to the fore in the mountains
of the Grand Tours, an area we have been keen to focus on."
Zandio, 33, began his professional career in 2001. His most notable achievement to date came in 2005, when he finished second in the 16th stage of the Tour de France and 22nd overall. With ten Grand Tour starts to his name, the Spaniard will bring valued
experience to Brailsford's team.
"[Zandio] is someone who will give his teammates absolutely everything in the mountains on exactly the sort of stages which decide Grand Tours."
Two new prospects
Uran, who has raced with Caisse D'Epargne since 2008, came seventh overall in this year's Tour de Suisse. The 23-year-old is one of the brightest prospects in Colombian cycling.
Dowsett, 21, wore the leader's jersey during one stage of this year's Tour de l'Avenir, considered the equivalent of the Tour de France for U23-riders.
"These three new additions sum up our squad perfectly — a blend of developing talent and Grand Tour experience with a strong British influence at the heart of it. I think we've got a fantastic group at Team Sky — a real nucleus of riders who can make us
a force to be reckoned with for years to come."
The British team, which formed ahead of the current season backed by the Sky network, can count one Giro D'Italia stage win and a victory in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad among its 2010 achievements.
Tags: