Baguet to QuickStep

By Sabine Sunderland

Belgian national champion Serge Baguet (Davitamon-Lotto) will ride for rival belgian ProTour team QuickStep in 2006. Baguet recently won the final of a series of derny criteriums in Wetteren, Belgium, clinching the series. His team-mate and friedn Peter van Petegem was second, and it has been Van Petegem who has been the centre of recent transfer rumours.

Van Petegem's manager Paul De Geyter was reported to be talking to Cofidis about next season, but he has been confirmed as staying with Davitamon-Lotto. Instead, his training partner Baguet is the one changing jerseys. Baguet says was offered a renewal of his contract by Omega Pharma's big boss Marc Coucke and team manager Marc Sergeant but Baguet preferred the preposition made to him by Patrick Lefevere.

"When the team management didn't select me for the Tour de France this year; it was a clear sign for me to go and look for other pastures. It's not that I really want to ride the Tour de France every season, but this year there were a few stages where I really could have made a good result; the whole Tour parcours was to my liking," former TdF stage winner Baguet told Cyclingnews.

"I have ridden for the team of the National Lottery my whole career but I felt it was time for a change. I have always had a good understanding with manager Patrick Lefevere so I didn't have to think twice a bout a move to his team. Also, I'm looking forward to reward their confidence in me and as always I'll be giving it a 100 percent for my team leaders, to ride for someone like Boonen will be fun."