Aaron Olson to Saunier Duval

American cyclist Aaron Olson will spend the next two seasons with Spanish ProTour outfit Saunier Duval-Prodir. The 27 year-old said he was happy with the opportunity to race in Europe again. "I raced two years in Europe with the Under-23 U.S. National Team, and my goal has been to make it back to Europe to race for a top level team," said Olson. "Now, having the opportunity to ride with a team and organization like Saunier Duval-Prodir, I will have the opportunity to ride some of the biggest races in the World, like a Grand Tour such as the Tour de France."

After several false starts in his professional career, including one team that never materialized and another in Europe that fell apart mid-season, Olson has spent the past two years as one of the Colavita-Sutter Home squad's top workhorses. Though mainly a worker for the team's bevy of talented sprinters, Olson found his own bit of glory when opportunity presented itself. Olson won the Kelly Cup NRC Criterium in Baltimore this past summer and stages in the Tour de Beauce and Tour de Toona in 2004. His plethora of top-10 finishes and the wins chalked up by his Colavita-Sutter Home teammates were enough to attract the attention of a Spanish squad looking to bring on a talented, young rider.

"I am hoping for a few early season classics, like Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix," continued Olson, who will make his European home in Spain. "The team wants me to do a Grand Tour, so I will be working extra hard to make the Tour team. I like the fact that the team doesn't really have any big names. All good guys I am sure, but without those really big names, leaves room and opportunity for me to do some big races. It's been a goal of mine, that has been a long time in the making."