Luttenberg signs with Trek-Brentjens team
Addition of young Dutch mountain biker strengthens squad
Irjan Luttenberg signed to ride with the Trek-Brentjens Mountain Bike Racing Team in 2010. He'll participate in national and international competitions along with teammates Jelmer Pietersma, Tim Wijnants and Frank Beemer.
"Trek-Brentjens is a team that can help me go far, with Bart (Brentjens) as team leader - someone who has ridden at the highest level and knows what it is to be a professional athlete," said the 20-year-old Luttenberg.
"The experience and energy he puts into the team appeals to me. I have a very good feeling about the team's atmosphere and riders . For 2010, the most important races for me will be the World Cups and World Championships. I think that with my new team, I can get some good results."
"It's cool to have more Dutch mountain bike talent for my team," said Team Manager and former World Champion Bart Brentjens. "Irjan is still young and has, in recent years, made enormous progress. I think that as part of our team, he'll develop further as a professional."
Luttenbuerg lives in the village of Kranenburg, near the German border. In addition to his sporting achievements, he has studied physiotherapy at the Hogeschool Arnhem / Nijmegen school.
Luttenberg began racing at age 14 and then became more serious as a junior. For the past four years, he had ridden with the Stappenbelt Mountain Bike team.
In 2008, he was the Dutch Under 23 national champion and won the national series race in Groesbeek. This year, he was runner up in the Under 23 Dutch National Championships and at the Benelux Cup in Bertrix. He was crowned Under 23 champion in the Benelux series. In the World Cups, he finished 38th in both Bromont and Mont Sainte Anne.
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Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews. She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.