Contract news

Cappelle stays with Landbouwkrediet

Andy Cappelle has extended his contract with Landbouwkrediet-Colnago. Team manager Gérard Bulens is happy with Cappelle's progress this season, and Andy believes he can return to his best level. He is the 10th Belgian rider to have confirmed with Landbouwkrediet for next season.

Mouris and Stroetinga to Ubbink

Jens Mouris (Regiostrom Senges) and Wim Stroetinga (Fondas P3 Transfer) have signed two year contracts with the Dutch Ubbink-Syntec Cycling Team.

Pozzato leaving Quick.Step

Classy Italian rider Filippo Pozzato will leave Quick.Step-Innergetic at the end of this season, according to Sportwereld.be. Team manager Patrick Lefevere told the paper that he would happily have kept Pozzato, the winner of this year's Milan-San Remo, "but after Boonen, Bettini and now also Steegmans and Van Petegem, I don't have the money to match his demands." Pozzato has interest from Liquigas, T-Mobile and Astana.

Rabobank: Boven stays; Rick Flens moves up

Jan Boven will stay with the Rabobank ProTeam through the 2007 season. Boven has reached an agreement with Rabobank manager Theo de Rooij over a one year contract. Rick Flens, a talented rider from the Rabobank Continental Team, will make the switch to the Rabobank ProTeam in 2007. Flens has signed a two year contract.

In 2007, Jan Boven will start his twelfth season as a rider for Rabobank. Together with Michael Boogerd and Richard Groenendaal, Boven is one of only three riders who have been with the team ever since the start of the Rabobank Cycling Teams in 1996. Erik Dekker has been around since 1996 as well, but Dekker recently switched to a position in the team leader’s car.

In 1996, Jan Boven won a stage in the Teleflex Tour, the one and only victory of Boven as a professional rider. Boven is a respected domestique within Rabobank. This Sunday, Boven will represent The Netherlands for the fifth time in World Championships road race as an elite rider.

Rick Flens joined the Rabobank Continental team at the beginning of the 2006 season. Thus far, Flens has won four races in 2006. He is a strong time trialist, and won the prologue of Olympia’s Tour plus the individual time trial of the Tour du Poitou Charentes et de la Vienne. On top of that, a solo led to a stage victory in the Ronde van Vlaams-Brabant. Last weekend, his sprint was good enough for the victory in the third stage of the Tour de la Somme.

Albert Timmer to Skil-Shimano

Dutch rider Albert Timmer has signed a two-year contract with Skil-Shimano. This season the 21-year old cyclist from Gramsbergen (Netherlands) has been riding for Team Löwik Meubelen of Han Vaanhold. Timmer attracted attention this season with a third place in the GP Gerrie Knetemann, a third place in the Meeùs Race in Lierop and two second places, in the third and fourth stage of the GP Wilhelm Tell.

Timmer, who is seen as a promising talent, is an all-round cyclist who can compete with the best riders in the Under 23 category on hilly courses, as well as in the time trial.

"The program, ambiance and ambition of the Skil-Shimano team is very appealing to me and I will give my very best to succeed as a professional cyclist."