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The Vacansoleil-DCM team has secured UCI ProTeam status for 2011 after being the most successful UCI Professional Continental Team of 2010.

The team is registered in the Netherlands but main sponsor Vacansoleil is a European holiday company and so the team has an international roster of strength and quality.

Riccardo Ricco, Borut Bozic, Romain Feillu, Matteo Carrara, Johnny Hoogerland, Björn Leukemans, Wouter Mol and Alberto Ongarato all impressed in 2010 and the team has been further strengthened by the arrival of Stijn Devolder. The former Belgian National Champion won the Tour of Flanders in both 2008 and 2009 and in 2010 he won the Tour of Belgium, confirming that he can target both the cobbled classics and stage races.

Ricco’s first major goal of 2011 is the Giro d’Italia. The mountainous route and limited amount of time trials makes him a huge favourite. If the Giro goes well, the Italian climber could also return to the Tour de France.

Feillu, Carrara, Ongarato and Marco Marcato are all quick-thinking riders who can read a race well and then win an eventual sprint. They are bound to make Vacansoleil-DCM’s first season in the UCI WorldTour a success.

“In 2009 we were good, in 2010 we were better and in 2011 the team has an enormous potential in many areas”, Team Manager Daan Luijkx said.

“Last season we missed the big tours despite excellent performances and some great rides. We want to avoid this in the future by taking the step up to the first division, maintaining our core and by attracting a number of top riders.”