For the fifth time Drapac Professional Cycling will head off to Europe in May 2011.
The season 2011 will be a special one for the reds of Drapac. They travel for the fifth time direction Belgium, more specific 20km south of Ghent. A small village near Oudenaarde, called Leupegem host the Drapac team. A cosy B&B that grow out to a real cycling hotel.
A coincidental or not, but it is also the first time the team has contracted a European rider.
Floris Goesinnen is a 27 yr old “Dutchie”. Pro since 2006 for Skil Shimano, it will a be a new challenge for him to race in Australia again. He competed in the Sun Tour few years ago.
Floris is not a bad climber either, he won the KOM jersey in the 3 days of De Panne (2010) and also in the Eneco Tour (2008)
“I am really looking forward to race in Australia and become an Aussie. With the boys introducing me into the Aussie livestyle, it will be easy to settle in Melbourne” he said.
“After that it will be my turn to guide the boys in the European races, i will introduce them into the “Dutch echalons”. No better feeling then splitting up a bunch and then realize all the Drapac riders are in the front group” Floris laughs.
I ask him if he could compare the racing in Europe with his experience from the Sun Tour?
“Yes, the racing is different, less controlled, which makes the races harder and gives more chanches to the more aggresive and stronger riders. And, that is where we can use the echalons for. Not that loved in Australia” he reckons.
About himself he said “ I have finished the bachelor of kinetic sciences and have a master waiting in the future. The link to the sports is big, and Australia’s way to succes in sports is also enormous, they are not for nothing the worlds leader for tracing talents, training and development”.
The team is doing a programm in Europe in the months of May and June. The important races will be the An Post Ras in Ireland, the Fleche du Sud in Luxemburg, and the one day races as Halle-Ingooigem in Belgium and the Batavus Pro race in the Netherlands. Also the team will start in one or two stage races in France. Together with Belgian kermesses and crits the programm will be full!
Also new in the team will be Michael Phelan’s brother Adam. This former Mc Donagh Blake-Witness rider ,coached by Trent Wilson, is one of the strongest coming up riders on the Australian Cycling scene. With his brother being a member of the team since last year, he has a personal guide.
The third new face, is a nephew of an ex-pro that raced many years in Belgium. I bet John Nuttall gave him some hints about the living in Europe. Stuart Grimsey raced last season in France. The experience of racing most of the Coupe de France series will help him to play his role in the Drapac team. Maybe he will do even better then the other Brunswick boys (Docker and Munro) that raced for the team before.
After Adiq Husain winning the national Malaysia roadtitle, we welcome a second Malaysian rider. His name? Amir Rusli (23 yr). Winner of the Sandown Twilight Crit lately! He is not a winners type tho.” This is his first win in years” his coach John Beasley said.
He will be one of the hard workers in the team next year.
The full roster:
Drapac Patrick – AUS
Goesinnen Floris - HOL
Grimsey Stuart - AUS
Norris Lachlan – AUS
Othman Adiq – MAL
Palmer Tom – AUS
Pell David – AUS
Phelan Adam - AUS
Phelan Michael – AUS
Pollock Rhys – AUS
Rusli Amir - MAL
Shaw Stuart - AUS
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