Ljungqvist to lead Team Sky
Eurosport - Tue, 20 Oct 12:57:00 2009
Former Saxo Bank rider Marcus Ljungqvist has signed for Team Sky as a sports director.
The Swede (pictured), who retired at the end of the season, turned down an offer from Lance Armstrong's new Team Radioshack to join the British outfit, and starts his new position on January 1, 2010.
"I think this is a chance of a lifetime," Ljungqvist said. "During my 12 years as a professional rider I've had the privilege to meet many leaders whose personality and professionalism I hope I'm able to honour in my new profession.
"As of January 1, 2010 I formally begin my work as one of the team's sports directors. My contact with sports manager Scott Sunderland and also team manager Dave Brailsford leads me to believe that Team Sky Cycling has the power and the ambition to set the peloton on fire in our very first season.
"On a more personal note, the possibility of working together with one of my best friends in and outside of the peloton, Kurt Asle Arvesen, former team-mate Sunderland and one of the most promising Swedish riders of all times, Thomas Lovkvist, made my decision even easier.
"As did the very impressive roster of young British and international talent."
Team Sky includes British riders Geraint Thomas, Steve Cummings, Chris Froome, Russell Downing, Ian Stannard and Peter Kennaugh amongst its 16-strong roster.
Ljungqvist's biggest success in his 11-year career came when he won the Tour of Luxembourg in 2002. He also finished fourth in the World Road Championships in 2005.
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Comment 1 - 3 of 3
I'm not convinced this is a team to launch a tour contender on a realistic chance of a victory. I hope i'm wrong......
Good point Pedro, it's all coming together very well indeed, except for the missing Star Rider, whosoever that may be. I think a lot of people would like it to be Wiggo, and it seems like he's got the hots for Team Sky too, but we'll have to see. Cycling is a world of money and powergames now.
On a different note, I'd love to see Downing ride The Tour next year, I think he's such an exciting rider, it'd be fantastic to see what he can do in the ultimate test.
It's all coming together nicely...........well...................apart from a Grant Tour contender?! Lovqvist will be good for the shorter/hillier stage races and Boason-Hagen will be a factor in sprints/classics/one-day races, but I suppose Wiggo is the final piece of the jigsaw, but all seems to hang on whether Astana will let Contador go to Garmin, which depends on the UCI's decision to award Astana a ProTour licence (or not)??!! What a tangled web.
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