Brenes debuts in Europe

The winner of the 2008 Vuelta a Costa Rica, Gregory Brenes, has made the jump to Europe. He will be racing for the Luxembourg-registered Continental team Differdange. His season starts this weekend.

Brenes will begin with a double header, racing the 1.2 Classic Loire Atlantique on Friday and the 1.1 Cholet - Pays de Loire on Sunday. The Cholet - Pays de Loire is the first race of the French Cup, with ProTour teams like Saxo Bank, Cofidis, Caisse d'Epargne, Française des Jeux, AG2R La Mondiale or Bouygues Telecom also at the start line.

Brenes will continue to race in Europe throughout the spring. He will do the Hel van het Mergelland in the Netherlands (April 4), before doing a few stage races in France. April 10-12 he participates in the Circuit des Ardennes and from April 16 to 19 the Rhône-Alpes Isere Tour is on his programme.

His big hope is to race with his team in the Tour of Luxembourg, June 3-7.