Brammeier to ride for Quickstep

National Road Race Champion Matt Brammeier has signed a new contract with Quickstep for the 2012 season.

Speculation as to which team Brammeier would join has existed since his current HTC-Highroad team announced that it would cease to exist after the end of the season after failing to secure a sponsor.

The 26 year old while remaining tight-lipped in recent weeks told followers of Twitter that he was very pleased with his choice of team.

He follows his teammates Tony Martin and Slovakian twins Martin and Peter Velits to the team and has already been earmarked as a rider who can improve with the Belgian outfit.

“Brammeier is a rider the team wants to bet on for the near future,” said team manager Patrick Lefevere as the team announced the signing.

“We’re sure he has everything it takes to cut out a role for himself, first within the team and then during the season in the races for which he’ll line up,” he added.

“Matthew is entering an important phase in his career and we think he can even improve in our group,” he continued.

Brammeier retained the national road race title in Monaghan this year while also adding the national time trial title to his palmares.

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