A new 'cross team for Belgium

By Brecht Decaluwé

From January 1, 2007 the dominance of Fidea and Rabobank in cyclo-cross might be over. A new Belgian team, the Sunweb-Projob team, was presented on Monday by team manager Jurgen Mettepenningen. Sunweb is a travel agency while Projob is a seller of sector-specific working clothes.

The two biggest names on the team's roster, Sven Vanthourenhout and Jan Jakke Verstraeten weren't presented on the podium, Mettepenningen explained this wouldn't have been appropriate towards the sponsors of their respective current teams, Rabobank and SD Worx. "We will receive enough media attention after the New Year," Mettepenningen said. He expressed his desire to compete with Rabobank and Fidea at the highest level in cyclo-cross, with the Belgian championship in Hamme being the first big appointment for the team.

Full roster

Sven Vanthourenhout (Rabobank)
Jan Jakke Verstraeten (SD Worx)
Tom Vannoppen (Palmans-Colstrop)
David Willemsens
Steven Decaluwé
Jehudi Schoonacker
Maxim Debusschere
Kenneth Van Compernolle
Jan Van Dael
Kenny Geluykens

Mario De Clercq (coach)
Hans De Clercq (coach)
Jurgen Mettepenningen (manager)