Cappelle to Palmans-Cras

By Bjorn Haake

Andy Cappelle has signed a one-year contract with Belgian Continental team Palmans-Cras. Cappelle rode for Landbouwkrediet the previous three years, but was left without a team after the 2008 season.

The team confirmed to Cyclingnews that Cappelle will ride all the important Belgian races, including Omloop Waasland, Dwars Door Vlaanderen, the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke and the Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde.

The 29-year-old Cappelle had his best year so far in 2007, when he won the Sparkassen Giro Bochum in Germany and also the third stage in the Regio Tour.

Cappelle was the Belgian U23 champion in 1999 and 2000, and he began racing as a professional in 2001 with the Saint-Quentin team of France. He joined Marlux - Ville de Charleroi in 2002 and rode for Chocolate Jacques - Wincor Nixdorf in 2004 before moving to Landbouwkrediet.

Palmans-Cras has already Dieter Cappelle in the line-up, but the two are not related to each other.