Dekker and Flecha extend with Rabobank

Thomas Dekker and Juan Antonio Flecha have both inked new contracts with the Rabobank team until the end of 2009. Team manager Theo de Rooij announced the extensions at Rabobank's Tour de France team presentation in Valkenburg, The Netherlands on Monday.

"Thomas is only 22 years old. It all goes so fast," noted de Rooij of his young protege, who joined Rabobank's development team in 2002. "At that age, being able to impress in races like Tirreno-Adriatico, the Tour de Suisse and the Tour de Romandie... It is good for Dutch cycling in general and for the Rabobank cycling team in particular to keep Thomas aboard for at least two more years."

de Rooij also spoke highly of Flecha, who placed second this year in the Omloop Het Volk and Paris-Roubaix. "Riders like Flecha may not be the best known with the Dutch cycling fans. But Flecha represents a great value for the team. He is a fantastic guy, a true cycling asset," said de Rooij.