Team Giant-Alpecin is pleased to announce that Søren Kragh Andersen (DEN) has signed a contract to ride with the team for two years, until the end of 2017.
Andersen took his first pro win on stage 4 of the Tour des Fjords in Norway this year. He also won two stages in the Tour de l'Avenir and the final GC at the ZLM Roompot Tour.
"Søren is a big talent in multiple areas," explained Team Giant-Alpecin coach Marc Reef (NED). "He has already achieved some great results. He is good in the time trial and has a strong sprint, and he will play an important role both in the sprint preparation and in the classics. He is good in cold and wet conditions. We want to explore where his development opportunities lie within the pro peloton. He will have a diverse race program in his first year as we seek to help him develop step-by-step."
Regarding turning professional at Team Giant-Alpecin, Andersen said: "I am really excited about this step in my career. From the beginning my first choice was to go to Team Giant-Alpecin. I've had good discussions with the performance staff and came away with a positive feeling about the team, and I am confident that it is the best for my development. In addition, I like the team's racing style of working together toward a common goal.
"I started cycling when I was eight years old, and I began to dream about becoming a professional one day when I started winning international races as a junior. In the years that followed I felt I was becoming stronger, and this year I won two stages in the Tour de l'Avenir and wore the yellow jersey. But the Tour des Fjords, where I won a stage and came second in the GC, with many experienced pro riders behind me, was a great experience as well. I want to develop myself as a person and become a better rider. My aim for the first year is to learn and become part of the team."