Klein Constantia team project to conclude at year’s end

Klein Constantia has decided to cease its activities once the current season comes to its end. The team was created with the intention of serving as a feeder-team to the World Tour Team Etixx–Quick-Step, owned by Zdenek Bakala. The Klein Constantia team can look back with pride at the four years spent in the sport.

Since its inception, Klein Constantia has amassed more than 50 victories in one-day races and stage events alike, positioning itself as one of the top development teams of the peloton. The project, which started in 2013, now comes to its conclusion after a fruitful cycle to make room for the UCI reform. The reform will be put into effect in 2018. It will mean each World Tour team stable will need to run its own development squad within the team.

“During its existence, Klein Constantia saw six riders make the step up to the World Tour with Etixx–Quick-Step, while two others joined top teams of the peloton. Nine other riders have secured contracts with professional Continental Tour teams. Their successes were achieved on a solid foundation, built with passion and dedication by the team’s staff and sponsors, with Mr. Zdenek Bakala at the helm. We would also like to say a big thank you to the companies Janom, Kalas and ELKOV elektro as well as to everyone who has supported us since the inception of this structure”, said Petr Kováč, the team manager of Klein Constantia.

“Klein Constantia was one of the most successful projects focused on the development of young riders. As everybody already knows, next year three Klein Constantia riders will move into the World Tour with our team, following in the footsteps of Julian Alaphilippe, Petr Vakoč and Lukasz Wisniowski. For World Tour teams, 2017 will be a transitional year during which we need to take each step at a time and see how the reform involving youth teams is implemented and where this road will take us in the end. Etixx–Quick-Step will continue to invest in, and look for, young talent, as the scouting programme – which has already brought into the squad a rider of Fernando Gaviria’s calibre – is an important part of our philosophy,” remarked Etixx–Quick-Step CEO Patrick Lefevere.

Em 2017 não haverá Tour de San Luis.

Em 2017 não haverá Tour de San Luis.

O Tour de San Luis nos primeiros anos de existência não era uma prova internacional...será que não podiam voltar a esses moldes em vez de acabarem com a corrida?