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Former Track Star Joins Team Drapac!

The management of Drapac Cycling are excited to report the signing of Matt Leigh.

Leigh has already proven himself as one of the top track riders in the world with an impressive array of junior cycling medals to his name. Bad luck and injuries have curtailed his form in recent years, but this has only strengthened his resolve and the youngster appears ready to make a big impact on the world cycling scene.

"We believe he can make the transition from the track to road cycling quickly and easily" said Drapac manager Mana Komaru at today's press conference. "He certainly has the talent and the dedication to become a future star of the sport, and we hope to further his development while also giving him the best chance to succeed."

When quizzed about the role he would be given for the season ahead, Komaru was keen to emphasise that he saw Leigh as being capable of leading a revitalised Drapac sprint train.

"We haven't got all our contracts sorted out just yet, but at the moment he is one of the strongest riders and will be our leader for the sprints on flat stages.

Drapac are expected to announce their full squad for the year ahead in the next few weeks.

We are delighted to announce that two former World Tour riders have signed with Drapac Professional Cycling - Graeme Brown and David Tanner!

The duo were previously employed as lead-out men for their countryman Mark Renshaw at the Belkin Pro Cycling team based in the Netherlands and had each spent several years overseas competing at the elite level of world cycling. Both have accumulated several big victories amongst their individual palmarès, whilst also serving as reliable domestiques for some of the cycling world's most renowned stars.

Brown, a former gold medallist at the 2004 Athens Olympics, said it was a decision he had been thinking about for a long time. "I joined Rabobank way back in the mid-2000s, but I've always considered Australia my true home. From the early days (when an Australian World Tour time was first being rumoured) it's been something I've wanted to do, and now is the perfect time for me to come home."

Tanner also expressed his enthusiasm for the year ahead. "I can't wait to meet the rest of the lads and get stuck in for another big season".

With the transfer period nearing its' end, Drapac Professional Cycling has managed to land a major coup by signing three UCI World Tour riders for our debut season in the Pro-Continental division.

The first two additions are sprinter Jonathan Cantwell and mountains specialist Rory Sutherland. The duo had previously been rumoured as possible departures from the World Tour giants Team Saxo - Tinkoff, who have been forced to make some sizable cuts to their squad in the off-season following an underwhelming 2013.

Former Fly-V Australia directeur sportif Henk Vogels (now a part of the Team Drapac staff) has worked with Cantwell before. "He's a great rider, someone that you always would love to have on your team," said Vogels. "He brings a lot of invaluable experience and I think his best is still ahead of him".

Sutherland will be making his long awaited return to Australia after spending over a decade racing overseas. His achievements in that time include several victories in American stage races such as the Tour of the Gila and the Joe Martin Stage Race.

The final signing comes in the form of the young stage-racer Lachlan Morton, who rode for the Garmin-Sharp team in the past year after having spent two full seasons in their development program.

Believed to be one of the future stars of Australian cycling, the New South Welshman has already made a big impression on many key figures of the international cycling world with some going as far as to say he was one of the premier talents in the under-23 ranks.

While the man himself was unavailable for comment, Morton's manager expressed his client's interest in taking Drapac and Australian cycling to "the next level" in the near future.

For more information on the new Drapac riders, make sure to check out the team's website and follow us on social media.

Drapac Professional Cycling - 2014 Squad Announcement

The time has come and we are proud to present you with the full Drapac Cycling roster for season 2014! Soon we will have a full profile for each of our riders - click on the spoiler below each rider's name to see more information.