Kroon extends with CSC

Team CSC announced Friday that it will extend the contract of Dutch rider Karsten Kroon for two more years. Kroon is a Classics specialist who scored a podium position in the 2006 Flèche Wallonne as well as fourth places in this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen and the 2006 Amstel Gold Race.

Kroon was happy to extend with the team run by manager Bjarne Riis, which he joined in 2006 after eight years with Rabobank. "For me the switch to Team CSC has been the best decision I've ever made as a pro rider," Kroon said. "The last two years have without comparison been the most beneficial for me to date so I'm extremely happy that my contract's been extended. I'm proud to represent this team and I look forward to gaining even more valuable experience with Team CSC over the next two years."

Riis expressed his satisfaction with Kroon's performance: "Karsten has done really well so far and his results prove that he's got the ability to compete with the best in the big classics. He fits well on the team and has turned out to be a major asset on several levels. Karsten has become a key part of our line-up for the classics and I think he's got the potential to become even better over the next few years."