Gunnewijk joins Buitenpoort-Flexpoint

Dutchwoman Loes Gunnewijk will leave her current team Vrienden van het Platteland and join the Buitenpoort-Flexpoint squad to become a team-mate of Susanne Ljungskog and Mirjam Melchers. Gunnewijk, an all-rounder with good time trial capabilities, won the Dutch Top Competition as well as a stage in the Tour de l'Aude this year.

Buitenpoort-Flexpoint team manager Jean-Paul Van Poppel is very satisfied to have signed the rider. "Loes fits into the squad," Van Poppel said. "We have several riders with time trial qualities, that want to excel in that discipline. She is like that too; we saw it in the Expert Ladies Tour."

Gunnewijk is happy to have found a team with expanded racing possibilities. "The team's focus also includes more foreign countries," Gunnewijk explained. "What's more, I needed a new breath of air as I've been with Vrienden van het Platteland for four years now."