Nick Nuyens has joined Garmin-Sharp on a three-year deal that will see the Belgian Classics specialist with the American team through 2013. The 32-year-old winner of the 2011 Ronde van Vlaanderen has spent the last two years with Danish outfit Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, but has seen his 2012 season blighted by a pelvic fracture he sustained in a crash in the Paris-Nice prologue back in early March.
"I am really happy to join Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda. I have always admired and been charmed by them," he said. "The team is well structured, has a super team spirit and it's just a really strong squad with a good mix of young talent and a lot of experience. I'm looking forward to being a part of it."
Garmin-Sharp has had a number of successes in the Spring Classics in recent years; most notably through Johan Vansummeren’s victory in the 2011 Paris-Roubaix, and this year Sep Vanmarck was one of the few to deny Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s Tom Boonen in the spring as he outsprinted him to take the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Vanmarcke will be moving on this year but, with Nuyens’ experience, Garmin-Sharp feels it has taken on a more than worthy replacement.
“Nick is a huge talent and we are thrilled that he will be joining Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda next season," said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports. "We have wanted to continue to bolster our Classics team, and Nick is obviously a tremendous addition for us. His talent, experience and deep knowledge of these races will be invaluable.
“We are very happy he chose Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda and we look forward to an exciting season.”