Team Giant-Shimano have announced an agreement with the province of Limburg in the Netherlands to help turn it into an international elite sports training area, attracting national and international talent to what will be known as the Limburg Cycling Academy.
Limburg is already well known in the world of cycling both as the home to the Amstel Gold Race and having hosted the road world championships no fewer than six times. Team Giant-Shimano will base its international riders in Limburg, allowing them to benefit from the top-quality housing, education, scientific and technical innovations, and training facilities and in return the province will draw on the expertise of the team to further develop the project and to: ‘obtain the necessary elite sports input and perspective.’
Iwan Spekenbrink, general manager of Team Giant-Shimano, commented on the Limburg Cycling Academy announcement: ‘To build a team, you need to invest in the development of individual athletes. It is our vision to guide our riders intensively, using the modern facilities here. The Limburg Cycling Academy is an important development in the world of cycling. Excellent facilities are concentrated in an area that is perfect for cycling and where the sport is popular and embraced by the local people… Our riders are looking forward to spending time in Limburg and benefiting from these outstanding facilities between races and the training camps at our training base in Spain.’
