Former Olympic and World Champion in track cycling Dan Frost will join Team CSC as sports director as of next year, the Danish team has announced. "Bjarne and I have been discussing this for some time now, and finally it's all worked out," the 44 year-old said. "I think I have a lot to offer the team and I look forward to working at the highest level within cycling sport."
"Dan will be a good guy to get on the team," team director Bjarne Riis added. "He's got a lot of experience and most importantly he has the abilities to become a good leader. We value human qualities greatly here at Team CSC, which is one of the reasons why we've chosen him in the first place. Among other things he'll be working a lot with the young riders and will have a big responsibility in helping them evolve. We all look forward to working with Dan."
One young man Dan Frost will then particularly look after is Martin Pedersen of Team GLS, who will also join CSC next season as a neo pro. The 22-year-old Dane won the U23 Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2005, and is considered one of the most promising young riders in international cycling. "I predict Martin a great future. He has the potential to go very far. First and foremost he has to get himself used to racing at this level, but he's already quite convincing in the way he handles himself in the professional peloton. I'm happy that we've managed to sign yet another big talent," Riis said.
"It's a dream come true for me," a happy Pedersen added. "Team CSC has always been at the top of my list. I know a bit about the team and would like to be a part of their way of doing things. I'm proud to begin my professional career at Team CSC." Pedersen's last big goal as an amateur will be next month's U23 World Championships in Madrid.
CSC also announced two stagiaires for the rest of 2005, Danish riders Kasper Klostergaard of Glud & Marstrand Horsens and Chris Anker Sørensen of Team Designa Køkken. Klostergaard's first race will be Tour de l'Avenir, where he will get a chance to show his potential. "We are always looking for new talents and Kasper has also been recommended by other riders. Now he will get a chance to show us what he's made of and also learn more about professional cycling at a high level," sports director Kim Andersen said.
