Former Under 23 Paris-Roubaix winner and Tour de l’Avenir stage victor Koen de Kort is set to wear the distinctive Skil-Shimano colours until 2013. The 28 year old Dutchman has signed a new deal and will remain part of the team he has represented since 2009.
“The team’s management and the 28-year old Dutchman have agreed on a two-year contract extension,” said Skil-Shimano today. “Only last week De Kort finished ninth in the overall classification of the Tour of Wallonia. He proved himself to be of great value over the last years and can be employed all-round; De Kort participates in most Classics and stage races and he is a renowned link in the team’s sprint train as well.”
De Kort competed with the Rabobank development team between 2002 and 2004, then turned pro the following season with the Liberty Seguros-Wurth squad. After spending two years there, he had a similar-length contract with Astana. He moved to Skil Shimano prior to the start of the 2009 season.
The Dutch team announced yesterday that the strong German time trialist Patrick Gretsch had signed a two year deal. The 24 year old is currently with the HTC Highroad squad.
Skil-Shimano has been in the headlines this week thanks to its rider Marcel Kittel, who took the first three stages in the Tour of Poland.