Theuns goes Trekking

Looking to secure its future in post-Fabian Cancellara times Trek have mad a major scoop. With the big Belgian squads slightly crowded already they are able to offer Theuns a decent level of freedom and the opportunity to ride with and learn from riders like Cancellara and Devolder who know a thing or five about winning the Tour of Flanders which is most likely what Theuns is aspiring to do one day. For Topsport it means losing another big name but as a dedicated talent development squad they will see this as a feather in their cap to have delivered another rider to a big team on what presumably is a big contract. There will have been no shortage of interested teams looking for his signature so Theuns should be on a decent salary at Trek.

The contract is reportedly for two years and with Cancellara by all indications nearing the end of his career the two shouldn't necessarily clash to much. In fact the situation looks a little like that of Tom Boonen joining Quick Step where old master Musseuw was in his last years. Coincidentally Boonen and Musseuw are the two riders Theuns has been likened to most often. So if Fabian embraces taking on an "apprentice" like Musseuw did then it could all turn out roses.

Hopefully for the two it will also mean that Trek find some more support for the classics, Cancellara's one achilles heel in the last few seasons. With the addition of Theuns he should already be in better shape for his last runs at the classics but for Theuns future one can only hope that Trek get more serious so that he doesn't suffer the same issues that Cancellara has when he is ready to challenge for the Monuments. In racing terms getting Theuns on Trek rather than one of the more crowded teams means a nice spread of talent which is a good thing for fans who won't be waiting for him to get his opportunities on a team where he was third or fourth in the pecking order in the next few years.