South African team Konica Minolta has signed two Danish riders this week: Dejan and Nikola Airstrup. The two brothers, aged 21 and 19 respectively, caught the attention of team manager John Robertson over the last few weeks in Belgium where they have largely been racing on the domestic scene.
"I was very impressed with their aggressive style of racing. They are never afraid to attack, and both the young riders are serious about their future plans in the sport," said Robertson. "When I found out the two of them were living in an old caravan, with no running water and the nearest bathroom a few hundred meters up the road, then I also knew they were both hungry, and hungry riders win races."
Both brothers have an impressive resume; Nicola was 1st in the Championship of Zeeland and 5th overall in the National Championship of Denmark this season. Both riders possess a good sprint, which falls in line with the team's strategy of signing more sprinters in order to dominate the end of season racing in South Africa, from September till mid November culminating in the pick & Pay 94.7 National Classic.
Nicola Airstrup will be riding for the Danish National Team in the HC Tour of Denmark from the 2nd to the 6th of August before joining up with the team at its base in Belgium.
From the 4th to the 7th August the team will go on a short mid season training camp In the Ardennes region of Belgium. On the 12th and 13th of August the team will be racing in Germany again.
