2005 Champion and Previous Stage Winners Lead Rabobank Contingent

Dutch ProTour cycling team Rabobank will compete in the Santos Tour Down Under in January 2012 with an impressive team line up, led by 2005 Santos Tour Down Under winner Luis Leon Sanchez and multiple event stage winners.

This is the first team announcement for the 2012 event and Santos Tour Down Under Race Director, Mike Turtur, said he welcomed the return of Rabobank to South Australia.

“The Rabobank team line up is quite formidable with Luis Leon Sanchez leading the team. The experience in this strong team should show on the results board come January,” he said.

Mr Turtur said he was always delighted to see a past overall winner return to the Santos Tour Down Under.

Sanchez is a three time Tour de France stage winner (2008, 2009, 2011) and a three time Spanish National Time Trial Champion (2008, 2010, 2011).

“Having past winners continue to return to compete is a compliment to the level of fierce competition the race delivers,” he said.

There is a strong Aussie presence in the team with Graeme Brown a four time Santos Tour Down Under stage winner (2001, 2003, 2008 and 2009), as well as Mark Renshaw and Michael ‘Bling’ Matthews owning one stage each.

Mark Renshaw joins the Rabobank team in 2012 and is considered one of the best lead out men in the world, spending the last few years at HTC-Highroad with Mark Cavendish.

“It is always fantastic to welcome back our Aussie champions to the race. Graeme and Mark tend to perform well here and we expect nothing different from them next year,” Mr Turtur said.

Michael Matthews made his professional racing debut with Rabobank at the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under and came away with a stage win, making him one to watch in 2012.

“Matthews has had a taste of victory here in Adelaide and I am sure he will be hungry for more come January,” Mr Turtur said.

Rabobank’s line up for the 2012 Santos Tour Down Under will be led by Team Manager, Frans Maassen (NED) and include riders: Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP), Michael Matthews (AUS), Tom Leezer (NED), Mark Renshaw (AUS), Jos Van Emden (NED), Graeme Brown (AUS) and Wilco Kelderman.

More rider and team announcements will be issued over the coming weeks.

The 2012 Santos Tour Down Under will be held in Adelaide and regional South Australia from 15-22 January.

Visit www.tourdownunder.com.au for more information.