Armstrong recruits Trek-Livestrong duo for RadioShack

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RadioShack has signed young talents Bjorn Selander and Sam Bewley from the Trek-Livestrong team. The two riders have become the first from Lance Armstrong's Under-23 development squad to make the progression to the Texan's new professional team.

“It’s a great move and opportunity for them and shows how the programme with Radioshack is working,” Axel Merckx, director of Trek-Livestrong told Cyclingnews.

Selander and Bewley will race for RadioShack until at least the end of 2011, in line with the International Cycling Union's (UCI) requirement that all neo-professionals be signed to a minimum two-year contract.

“It will be a step up for both of them in terms of competition but they’ve been consistent and very strong this year. It was natural that they moved up another level. Bjorn I think is an overall rider, he can climb, time trial and sprint. He’s a good all-rounder that can be used in every type of race. He just has to find out what his specialty is. He could be a stage race rider in the future,” Merckx said.

Selander, 21, has made a rapid progression to the professional level after one season with Trek-Livestrong. This year, he finished fifth overall at Canada's Tour de Beauce and seventh at the Univest GP last month.

Bewley, too, has spent only one season with Trek-Livestrong, but would have had to have left the squad regardless as he is in his final year of the Under-23 category. The 22-year-old was a member of the New Zealand team pursuit squad that took bronze at last year's Beijing Olympics.

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