Russia's Denis Menchov had the biggest victory for Rabobank in 2009, winning the Giro d'Italia general classification.(Image credit: Rudi Ottens)
PR officer Luuc Eisenga has a word with 2009 Giro champion Denis Menchov.(Image credit: Rudi Ottens)
Dutchman Lars Boom(Image credit: Rudi Ottens)
Nick Nuyens is the only Belgian on Rabobank.(Image credit: Rudi Ottens)
Germany's Grischa Niermann, Dutch champion Koos Moerenhout, 2009 Giro champion Denis Menchov, and Tour de France stage winner Juan Manuel Garate (l-r) at the Rabobank presentation.(Image credit: Rudi Ottens)
Oscar Freire and Denis Menchov after the team presentation(Image credit: Rudi Ottens)
Spain's Oscar Freire(Image credit: Rudi Ottens)
An emotional moment as Pedro Horrillo talks about his decision to retire from cycling.(Image credit: Rudi Ottens)
Rabobank press officer Luuc Eisenga has a word with three-time world champion Oscar Freire.(Image credit: Rudi Ottens)
Pedro Horrillo(Image credit: Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl)
Pedro Horrillo(Image credit: Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl)
Rabo Continental Team 2001(Image credit: Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl)
Rabo Pro Team 2001(Image credit: Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl)
2009 Giro d'Italia champion Denis Menchov will not defend his title in the Italian race, and will choose to train at altitude during the month of May in preparation for the Tour de France, the Rabobank team announced at its presentation in Rotterdam.
"The decision was made in consultation with the rider," said director Adri van Houwelingen in Ahoy. "We had already discussed it, but everything moved quickly when the route of the Giro was announced.
"The last week [of the Giro] is very difficult, and it is not good preparation for the Tour de France, which is the main objective," said Van Houwelingen.
Menchov will be a co-team leader with Dutch climber Robert Gesink.
The Rabobank team presented its 2010 roster on Friday in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The Dutch ProTour team features riders from six nations with two-thirds of them being Dutch.
Thirteen different riders won races for Rabobank in 2009, most notably Denis Menchov who won two stages and the overall at the Centenary Giro d'Italia.
The team signed two new riders for 2010, Dutch talents Steven Kruijswijk and Dennis van Winden, each of whom move to the ProTour team from the Rabobank Continental squad.
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Click here for a gallery of photos from the Rabobank team launch.
2010 Rabobank team roster:
Mauricio Ardila (Col), Lars Boom (Ned), Graeme Brown (Aus), Stef Clement (Ned), Rick Flens (Ned), Oscar Freire (Spa), Juan Manuel Garate (Spa), Robert Gesink (Ned), Dmitry Kozontchouk (Rus), Steven Kruijswijk (Ned), Sebastian Langeveld (Ned), Tom Leezer (Ned), Paul Martens (Ger), Denis Menchov (Rus), Koos Moerenhout (Ned), Bauke Mollema (Ned), Grischa Niermann (Ger), Nick Nuyens (Bel), Joost Posthuma (Ned), Kai Reus (Ned), Tom Stamsnijder (Ned), Bram Tankink (Ned), Laurens ten Dam (Ned), Maarten Tjallingii (Ned), Jos van Emden (Ned), Dennis van Winden (Ned) and Pieter Weening (Ned).
