Brammeier to take on key role at Tour Down Under

Posted 03 January 2012

The new Omega Pharma Quick Step team is looking to Irish national road race champion Matt Brammeier to help it record its first win of the 2012 season when it travels to Australia for the Tour Down Under.

Brammeier will start his season as part of a seven-man team which has been selected to compete in next Sunday’s Down Under Classic as well as the six-day Tour Down Under which takes place from January 17th to 22nd.

The team will be captained by Gerald Ciolek and Gert Steegmans with Brammeier and former An Post Sean Kelly team rider Andrew Fenn chosen to provide the two sprinters with a super fast lead out train as the team hunts for stage wins.

““The overseas event in Australia will be the team’s 2012 debut on the road. We’re lining up for the start with a young group, ideally captained by Steegmans and Ciolek. Our goal is to try and clinch a stage success so that we begin 2012 in the best way there is,” explained Sport Director Rik Van Slycke.

“We’ve got a good train set up with Brammeier and Fenn, who are fast men. Steegmans and Ciolek will have to capitalize on their teammates’ work and try to win a stage,” he revealed.

The team has identified the stages it could win and Ciolek has already departed for Australia so that he can better adapt to the time difference and to take advantage of the Australian climate for training.

“The second-to-last stage features an important uphill arrival. It could even be the perfect terrain for an athlete like Serge Pauwels,” said Van Slycke of the Belgian.

The remainder of the team, which also includes Matteo Trentin and Julien Vermote, will depart Amsterdam for Australia on Thursday.

Tour Down Under - Stages

15.01.12 Down Under Classic  Adelaide East End - Adelaide East End 51.0 km

17.01.12 Stage 1  Prospect - Clare  149.0 km

18.01.12 Stage 2  Lobethal - Stirling  148.0 km

19.01.12 Stage 3  Unley - Victor Harbor  134.5 km

20.01.12 Stage 4  Norwood - Tanunda  130.0 km

21.01.12 Stage 5  McLaren Vale - Old Willunga Hill  151.5 km

22.01.12 Stage 6  Adelaide City Council Street Circuit

• Array