Three More Leopards: Wegmann, Gerdemann, Fuglsang to Luxembourg

The Luxembourg Pro Cycling project confirmed today that they have signed Fabian Wegmann, Linus Gerdemann, and Jakob Fuglsang. That's two Fabians - Wegmann and Cancellara (assuming rumors linking Cancellara to the team are correct) - for the Leopard team, which won't be the Leopard team forever. My favorite quote from the press release: At 28 years old, Linus Gerdemann is just entering the velvet years of his career where he will be at the peak of his abilities. The Velvet years, is that what the kids are calling it these days?

Photo: Getty

Full Press Release!

The Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project
Press Release
Roster Announcement
Gerdemann Wegmann Fuglsang
29.10.2010

Three more all-rounders join the team from Luxembourg

The Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project is pleased to announce that is has signed three
of the most accomplished young racers on the circuit. The exceptional German
professionals Linus Gerdemann and Fabian Wegmann along with Danish sensation
Jakob Fuglsang have been added to the impressive list of names who will join
together to help make the new team one of the top line-ups in the world.

At 28 years old, Linus Gerdemann is just entering the velvet years of his career
where he will be at the peak of his abilities. “I have already worked with Linus
earlier in his career and I always wanted to work with him again, so I am pleased to
have the chance to get him on this team,” Team Manager Kim Andersen said. For
his part Gerdemann did not have to hesitate long before deciding on where to move
for his 2011 season. “I know a lot of the people who will be riding and working for
the team, so it was not that hard of a decision to make,” Gerdemann revealed.
“Frankly, I am very excited to be racing with so many familiar faces once again.”

Gerdemann has already made his mark as a potential stage race winner. Though he
has a couple of quiet seasons behind him, the team sees big opportunities opening
up for the solid all-rounder. “We have big expectations for Linus,” Andersen
revealed. “It has been good for him to have had a chance to grow as a person and
as a rider in the last years and I think he has some amazing seasons ahead of him.”
Gerdemann is unequivocal about what he expects from himself in his time on the
Luxembourg team: “I want to win stage races and win the Tour de France with the
team.”

Fabian Wegmann is another exciting signing for the team since he has had a lot of
success as a result of his winning attitude and indefatigable ability. “Fabian is a
rider I have always wanted on my team,” Andersen explained. “I have always liked
him; he is a winner - pure and simple. Though he is not a pure climber or a pure
sprinter, you can always count on him for several wins a year.” With his positive
attitude and his team-oriented focus, Wegmann will undoubtedly be a great asset
to the team from day one. “I searched out this team because I want to be a
member of what I believe will be the most exciting team in cycling for the coming
season,” Wegmann said. “I want to give my best to the team and be in top form for
the Wallonian Classics, the Tour, Worlds and races like the Tour of Lombardy.”
Wegmann’s ambitions to be at his best for such a diverse list of races will fit well
with what the management hopes to see from him. “He will mix nicely into the
group and we surely can count on him to bring home some Classics and semi-
Classics, or even the odd Grand Tour stage,” Andersen declared.

A definite feather in the cap of the new team from Luxembourg is the addition of
Jakob Fuglsang to its ranks. “Obviously we have big expectations for Jakob. For
me, he is one of the biggest talents in the sport,” Andersen said. Fuglsang has
found a good deal of success the past several years by proving himself to be an able
climber and time triallist, so he is expected to form one of the cornerstones of the
new team. “I wanted to join this team because I knew it would be a good fit for me
and my personal goals,” Fuglsang revealed. “It is also exciting to start something
new and help build it up along with my friends.” Fuglsang recognizes the important
role that Kim Andersen has played thus far in his development and looks forward to
continuing their association. “Jakob had a fantastic first year racing at the ProTour
level in 2009, and this year he gave the Schlecks good support in the Tour,”
Andersen explained. “He is a very complete rider and we now know how to tweak
his off-season preparation so that he can arrive in the best possible shape for the
coming season.” Though Fuglsang will perform the important role of being a top
lieutenant to the Schleck brothers in their bid to win the Tour de France, he also has
a notion of what he would like to achieve for himself in the coming years. “I will aim
for higher personal goals like going for the general classification at the Giro or
Vuelta, while taking great care to help Andy and Frank at the Tour. They are such
great athletes, why shouldn’t  we try to win it?”

About
The Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project is run by the company Leorpard S.A. based in Howald,
Luxembourg. General Manager Brian Nygaard and Team Manager Kim Andersen are setting
up a new UCI ProTour team with 25 riders to compete in the world’s biggest races.
Amongst the international line-up are the two Tour de France aces: Fränk and Andy Schleck.
Other riders who have also been signed are Daniele Bennati, Dominic Klemme, Maxime
Monfort, Giacomo Nizzolo, Bruno Pires, Davide Viganò, Jens Voigt and Wouter Weylandt.
The new team will be racing on Trek bikes and Mercedes-Benz Luxembourg is providing the
full fleet of vehicles ranging from buses and trucks to race cars and VIP vehicles.