Vegard Stake Laengen to join TJ Sports
Oct 03 2016 09:04 pm CET
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS FEEDSNorwegian cyclist Vegard Stake Laengen is the latest rider to have been announced for the 2017 roster of TJ Sports, currently known as Lampre-Merida.
The team, which from next year will operate under a Chinese license, unveiled the signing of the 27-year-old in a press release on Monday, introducing the rider as "one of the top riders of the team for the time trials".
"When I was a child, I used to watch on tv the cycling races and in the bunch there were also the riders of the teams of the manager Saronni," the Scandinavian said. "So, now it's a great feeling to sign a contract to race in Mr. Saronni team. It's an amazing opportunity for me, also because I'll continue to compete in the WorldTour and in the races I like the most.
"I really like time trials and I like to join breakaways: if I should choose the goals for the next years, I'd love to obtain a stage victory in a Grand Tour, perhaps in a time trial or thanks to an attack. I'm aware of the fact that these are ambitious goals; I'll try to do my best to achieve them.
"I thank the teams and who have supported me in my career and TJ Sport for having chosen me for their project," he concluded.
Although he made his professional debut in 2009, it took until this year for the rider to make his Grand Tour debut with IAM Cycling, having taken part in both the Giro d'Italia (83rd and third in the Stage 9 Individual Time Trial) and the Vuelta a España (81st).
