More and more details about the Luxembourg Pro Cycling project are being revealed; first the equipment suppliers Trek and Mercedes, then the riders, and now the clothing suppliers.
Craft Performance Apparel has been confirmed as working with the team in 2011 and beyond, using its technology from skiing and speed-skating to try to further develop its cycling clothing. Many of the riders on the team will already be familiar with it, given that the company has supplied kit to the Saxo Bank team in the past.
Riders such as Andy and Frank Schleck, Fabian Cancellara, Jakob Fuglsang, Jens Voigt, Stuart O’Grady and others are moving across from the Danish squad.
Team general manager Brian Nygaard welcomed the agreement. “We couldn’t be happier to have joined forces with Craft since they continually show the same passion and ambition we have for the sport,” he said. “We see this as a key component in the successful development of our project.”
He explained that its current clothing would be used as a base upon which developments will be made. Each rider will have custom-fit kit, thus helping to make it as aerodynamic as possible. “The actual team kit will be built around the top of the line Craft Attack collection and we will continue to push our technology even further with the team,” explains Nygaard.
As was the case with the Cervélo Test Team and Castelli clothing, the idea is that the riders will each provide regular feedback to the designers, thus helping them create a product that is continuing to evolve. Product Manager Mattias Carlsson said that this was of importance to Crarft Performance Apparel. “Everything will be customized to the needs and preferences of each rider,” he said. “Their eventual feedback will play a huge role in our future product development.”
The team has some of the top names in world cycling and is expected to straight away be one of the big players in the sport. The chances of it impressing are boosted by both the strength of the riders signed, and also the fact that the Saxo Bank element plus some of the team management have all worked together in the past, making the transition as easy as possible.
The goals for the team include aiming to win the Tour de France with one of the Schleck brothers, targeting the Classics and probably the world time trial championship with Cancellara, as well as picking up wins in shorter stage races with riders such as Fuglsang, Linus Gerdemann and others.
Craft Performance Apparel’s brand manager Erik Abrahamsson is looking forward to working with those kind of athletes. “Everyone from to CEO to the designers to the seamstresses is extremely excited about the partnership. Our brand has based its core endeavours to develop products in conjunction with world class athletes; there is no question in our mind that we are joining the top team in cycling.”
“Now that we have invested a lot of time, money and people, we are ready to tackle the cycling industry full throttle.”