Rabobank 2010 Team Roster
The Dutch registered outfit in the blue and orange kits fields a team of balance and depth, at home and capable of winning in the Northern Classics and one day epics as well as challenging for victories in stage races and Grand Tours...

Despite losing Juan Antonio Flecha and the promising Matthew Hayman to Team Sky, and Pedro Horillo to retirement, the Dutch Rabobank team heads into the 2010 season hoping to follow up on the success the team enjoyed in 2009.

2009 Giro d'Italia champion Denis Menchov remains as the leader of the team though announced recently that he will not defend his Giro title. After looking at the 2010 Giro route, Menchov decided that the Tour de France will suit his style more.

"The decision was made in consultation with the rider," said team director Adri van Houwelingen. "We had already discussed it, but everything moved quickly when the route of the Giro was announced.

"The last week [of the Giro] is very difficult, and it is not good preparation for the Tour de France, which is the main objective," said Van Houwelingen.

Dutch climber Robert Gesink also remains with the Rabobank squad this year. The young Dutchman had a decent 2009. Gesink made a credible challenge for the overall in the Vuelta until he crashed and injured his knee; he made a valiant attempt to stay in contact in the following stage in the mountains but lost time and position.

Gesink also took victory in the Giro Dell Emilia,. and also 6th place in the Giro di Lombardia. He finished the season as 10th on the UCI World Ranking. He has worked hard to improve his time-trialing skills, and is seen as a future contender for the overall victory in the Grand Tours.

Robert Gesink isn't the only young rising star waiting in the wings to enter center stage. Lars Boom multiple Cyclocross champion at 24 years of age made good progress in making his transition to the road last year and we can expect him to continue to live up to his promise. Bauke Mollema showed his promise in 2008 but was sidelined by illness for most of 2009; at 23 years of age this talented climber and all rounder only needs to sharpen his time trial to move into the list of the grand tour riders of the future alongside of Gesink and Andy Schleck.

The Dutch Rabobank team features riders from six nations with two-thirds of them being Dutch. The team is multi faceted, deep in talent capable of scoring in the one day classics as well as fielding a strong team for stage races and Grand Tours.

The team has an oveall balance with talented one day men such as three time world champion Oscar Freire, Koos Moerenout, Nick Nuyens, Tom Leezer and Joost Posthuma, just to name a few. One could say the team is one for any season, or terrain and we can be guaranteed to see the blue and orange riders at the front throughout t 2010.

The team signed two new riders for 2010, Dutchmen Steven Kruijswijk and Dennis van Winden. Both move to the ProTour team from the Rabobank Continental squad.

2010 Rabobank team roster:
Mauricio Ardila (Col), Lars Boom (Ned), Graeme Brown (Aus), Stef Clement (Ned), Rick Flens (Ned), Oscar Freire (Spa), Juan Manuel Garate (Spa), Robert Gesink (Ned), Dmitry Kozontchouk (Rus), Steven Kruijswijk (Ned), Sebastian Langeveld (Ned), Tom Leezer (Ned), Paul Martens (Ger), Denis Menchov (Rus), Koos Moerenhout (Ned), Bauke Mollema (Ned), Grischa Niermann (Ger), Nick Nuyens (Bel), Joost Posthuma (Ned), Kai Reus (Ned), Tom Stamsnijder (Ned), Bram Tankink (Ned), Laurens ten Dam (Ned), Maarten Tjallingii (Ned), Jos van Emden (Ned), Dennis van Winden (Ned) and Pieter Weening (Ned).

Rabobank 2010 roster
Rider (Nation) date of birth - (age)

** U23

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