Following a poor 2010 season, brought on partially by a management change after the end of the transfer season, Acqua & Sapone have decided to withdraw from sponsoring a team. In line with the teams largely American based riders and races, the team management decided that the search for a new sponsor should begin in the US.
After an extensive period of negotiations the team is proud to announce the new title sponsors are Quiksilver, with secondary sponsorship being provided by Kraft Foods. Quiksilver are a well known surfwear and boardsports related equipment manufacturer based in California. Kraft are the 2nd largest food corporation in the world, and are based in Illinois.
With the help of these sponsors the team management are looking to totally revamp the squad with the aim of chasing promotion to the Pro-Tour, and as such have set hard targets for the team to aim for.
Team Goal - Promotion
A very tricky goal for the team to achieve, but the management believes in setting ambitious goals. The team will not only need to achieve lots of victories, but also get solid point scoring positions in all the races they enter.
Tour of America - Top 5
There will be a lot of quality stage racers going to this race, so Yeison Delgado will have to pull out all the stops to finish in the top 5, but Quiksilver will be sending as strong a team as possible to help him.
Tour de Langkawi - Points Jersey
In a somewhat surprising move, Quiksilver will not be going for the overall win here. Instead they will send a team based around Allan Davis' sprint talents, and aim to pick up stage wins and the Green Jersey.
Tour du Faso - Win
Quiksilver will held to this African stage race with a team built around Allan Davis, hoping to pick up enough time bonuses to negate the effect of the nasty cobbled stage.
Dutch Food Valley Classic - Top 10
The sprinters classic will be another target for Allan Davis. A strong squad will hope to propel Allan Davis or Crescenzo D'Amore into the top 10.
Edited by ltt on 15-05-2010 17:07
Leaders Allan Davis A top drawer Australian Sprinter, we’ll look to him to provide Stage Wins, Points Jerseys and One Day Classics. The Australian Road Race champion should be among the top 5 sprinters in the CT. Yeison Delgado Venezuelan Stage Racer. Very good in the mountains, with a good enough Time Trial to stick around in the GC. Staf Scheirlinckx The Belgian Puncheur will be our leader in hillier races, and also used as a lead out man for the sprinters.
Time Trial Zakkari Dempster Quality Australian Time Trial specialist, will also act as lead out man. Mark Griffith Young American, probably 2 seasons away from reaching full potential. Cyril Lemoine Decent Time Trial with a good kick at the end of stages.
Hills Ruslan Sambris Solid all-rounder, will help in hills and on flat. Yon Bru Pascal Aging Spanish Puncheur, probably last season on the team.
Sprinter Damian MartÃnez Second Cuban on the team is a useful sprinter who can also help in mountain stages. John Murphy American who will act as a lead out man, can also help in Team Time Trials. Hayden Godfrey Kiwi sprinter, will be present in Time Trials, as well as his lead out duties.
Cobbles Andy Flickinger The French rider will be looking for the right breakaways to join.
Neo-Pro’s Carlos Betancourt Very exciting prospect, will be a helper this year, in the future will lead the team in the hilly Classics. Bjorn Selander American prospect, hoping to progress into a potential hilly stage winner. Paul Mach Decent prospect will eventually become a quality helper in the Mountains and Hills. Joe Hicks Looking to learn from Mercado and Delgado, with the aim of turning into a decent Stage Racer. Freddy Cruz Excellent Time Trial prospect, looking to gain some experience this year. Giacomo Nizzolo The young Italian sprinter will look to learn this season before taking on more responsibility for results in the future.
Stagiares Taylor Kuphaldt Young American looking to gain experience and a possible Pro contract.
Edited by ltt on 15-05-2010 16:30
