THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING »

Get the VeloNews Email Newsletter FREE

  Learn More | Archive
Home » Top Stories » Road »

Crédit Agricole discusses '07 roster

Young Roche arriving; Aging Kirsipuu debarts

By AFP
Published: Sep. 15, 2006

Irish rider Nicolas Roche, the son of former world, Giro d'Italia and Tour de France champion Stephen Roche, will be one of Crédit Agricole's new recruits for next season, the team said Friday.

The French outfit will also wave goodbye to aging veteran Jaan Kirsipuu, one of four riders who will be replaced by Roche, French duo Christophe Kern and Christophe Laurent and Italian Angelo Furlan.

Kirsipuu, 37, is one of the elder statesman of the peloton having notched up an impressive career tally of more than 120 victories including stages in the Tour de France.

Also leaving the Pro Tour outfit, whose big star these days is Norwegian sprinter Thor Hushovd, are French trio Nicolas Vogondy, Sebastien Portal and Kilian Patour.

Meanwhile, team manager Roger Legeay said their 23-year-old American ace, Saul Raisin, who was critically injured in a crash a few months ago, is continuing his rehabilitation.

"He went out on a six-hour training ride which took in two Cols (passes)," said Legeay Friday.