Roubaix champ, Fenn turns pro with Belgian classics team
Omega Pharma – Quick-Step | January 9, 2012
Andrew Fenn turns professional this year with Belgian classics team, OmegaPharma-Quick Step. Riding with Tom Boonen and Sylvain Chavanel, he will have a chance to build on his Paris-Roubaix win in the junior ranks.
"The British system is producing some of the most talented riders, look at Mark Cavendish," said general manager, Patrick Lefevere. "I've kept an eye on Fenn since he was racing in the in the Under 23 ranks. We've done tests with him. I am sure he'll develop well in our team."
The 21-year-old signed a contract in September with Lefevere's team. It is a good move for him, since Lefevere had his hand in many Paris-Roubaix victories, including three by Boonen.
"I had two wins last year, in Brittany and in Belgium, and I finished fifth in the Under 23 Roubaix," Fenn explained. "My biggest win, though, as an amateur was Paris-Roubaix in 2008."
Fenn completed last year with a bronze medal in the Under 23 World Championships.
As with many British riders, Fenn also excels on the track. In 2008, he won individual pursuit and helped Great Britain win the team pursuit in the European Championships. His focus is now on the road, where he will debut next week at the Tour Down Under in Adelaide, Australia.
"We have the right equipment and right staff, it's going to be a real good team," Fenn continued. "Lefevere's in charge, but riders like Tony Martin are in the team and Brian Holm joins as a sports director. There's a strong HTC influence."
Specialized bikes switched from sponsoring team HTC-Highroad to OmegaPharma after HTC folded at the end of last season. Six riders will also make the jump, including Martin, Bert Grabsch and the Velits twins, Martin and Peter.
"We probably did something right, didn't we," explained Brian Holm of team HTC. "Mark Cavendish, Matt Goss and André Greipel both placed on the podium at Worlds. We had many good young talents, but everything comes to an end and we are starting something new."
Holm will direct the team at various races in the year. In Australia, Fenn joins team-mates Matthew Brammeier, Gerald Ciolek, Serge Pauwels, Gert Steegmans, Matteo Trentin and Julien Vermote. He and Brammeier will help lead the team's sprint train to deliver Ciolek or Steegmans stage wins.
In the spring, Fenn wants to help OmegaPharma in the Classics.
"The classics are important to me and this is a classics team," Fenn said. "It's a winning combination."