Haselbacher back to Austria with Vorarlberg

Austrian Rene Haselbacher will ride for a 'home' team in 2009 for the first time since 1998. He joins Professional Continental Team Vorarlberg-Corratec after two years with Team Astana.

"I am very happy about it," said the 31-year-old to LaOla1.at. He signed a one-year contract.

Haselbacher, who lives in Vienna, rode for the Austrian elite teams Elk Haus and Tel-Mineralwolle from 1996 to 1998. In 1999 he joined Team Gerolsteiner, where he stayed for eight seasons before joining Team Astana in 2007.

This season he won the fifth stage of the Tour of Austria. (SW)