Catching up with Cervélo: More on the New Team

With Sastre's announcement all done and sealed, more details about the new Cervélo Test Team have begun to emerge. Spanish climber Iñigo Cuesta and directeur sportif Scott Sunderland confirmed in the initial press release that they will follow Sastre from team CSC-Saxo-Bank. Several new signings, which appear to reflect Sastre's ambition to develop young riders, are now making headlines. The new team, based on its reported roster so far, combines a few older veterans like Cuesta and Hammond with a number of young, up-and-coming talents.

Irish rider Philip Deignan, formerly of AG2R, will join the new team next year. This news comes from sources close to the rider, though Deignan has not yet confirmed it himself. The 24 year old climber has so far ridden the Giro and Vuelta in his career, finishing in the 70s in both. He is still looking for his first professional victory.

Three others from the English-speaking world are also reportedly on the roster. Roger Hammond, formerly of Team Columbia, will ride for Cervélo next year. The 34 year old has had a fairly quiet few years since his 3rd place finish at Paris-Roubaix in 2004.

Two Daniels will come from Sean Kelly's development team: Daniel Fleeman and Daniel Lloyd. Daniel Fleeman, currently 25, was an U23 national champion in Great Britain, and this year won the Tour de Pyrénées in France. Daniel Lloyd finished 2nd in the British national championship last year, and this year won the Vuelta Ciclista Internacional a Extremadura. The 28 year old also counts a couple stages in the Tour of Siam and the Tour of Qinghai Lake among his professional results.

The Belgian paper, het Neiuwsblad, reports that Heinrich Haussler will also ride for the team next year. The 24 year old German sprinter is a member of the Gerolsteiner diaspora. Haussler was a junior national champion in Germany both on the road and in the time trial. Last year, he won a stage of the Dauphiné. He also counts a Vuelta stage win among his results.

During Saturday's Vuelta stage, commentators on Eurosport hinted that Thor Hushovd may also sign on for Cervélo. SMASH! has yet to confirm this bit of rumorage.