Experienced racer Kevin van Impe is reportedly on his way to Vacansoleil-DCM, according to De Telegraaf. Van Impe, nephew of 1976 Tour de France winner Lucien van Impe, has spent his entire career on Belgian teams and currently rides for Quick Step, but has not been offered a contract for 2012 by the team.
Quick Step will take on a new look next season as it welcomes sponsor Omega Pharma which decided to sever ties with the Lotto team after several years.
The Belgian team has added riders such as world time trial champion Tony Martin, Levi Leipheimer, Peter and Martin Velits, Matt Brammeier, Bert Grabsch, Frantisek Rabon and Serge Pauwels.
The 30 year old van Impe has previously finished in the top twenty in both Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders and has won Dwars door Vlaanderen and Circuit Franco-Belge. It is believed he will come on board Vacansoleil-DCM at the request of Bjorn Leukemans, who wants him as support during the Classics season.
The Dutch squad is looking to reinforce its team for next year and has already announced the signings of Gustav Larsson, Stefan Denifl, Martin Mortensen and neo pro Nikita Novikov.
Yesterday the UCI released the initial list of top fifteen WorldTour hopefuls for next year based on its sporting criteria. Vacansoleil-DCM safely made the cut and, providing the other criteria is satisfactory, should gain automatic entry to the three Grand Tours and major one-day races for the second year running.