Michael Boogerd has signed for another year with Rabobank, the team reported today. "It all went quite fast," said Boogerd. "I very much wanted to stay with the team and the team wanted me to stay as well. So that didn't take much time. Great! I'm really happy with another year!"
About his future, after the 2007 season, Michael Boogerd has not taken a decision yet. "First of all I want to race another year full force. Whatever happens in 2008, we will see."
Team manager Theo de Rooij was equally happy: "Michael Boogerd… need I say more?! He's a fantastic rider, of course we very much like to keep him on the team."
Together with Erik Dekker, Jan Boven and Richard Groenendaal, Michael Boogerd is one of four riders who have been with Rabobank ever since the start of the team in 1996. Boogerd contributed to Rabobank's success with 45 victories, including a stage in the 2002 Tour de France to La Plagne.
In 1996, Boogerd won a stage in the Tour de France as well: the one in the pouring rain to Aix-les-Bains. On top of that, he was national champion in both 1997 and 1998, and beat Lance Armstrong for the classic victory in the 1999 Amstel Gold Race.
On Boogerd's roll of honour are the overall victories in Setmana Catalana (1998 and 2001) and Paris-Nice (1999) plus victories in the semi-classics Giro dell'Emilia (1999), Milano-Vignola (1999) and Brabantse Pijl (2001 and 2003).
Michael Boogerd was voted Dutch Cyclist of the year in 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2003.
