Cyclocross World Champion Wout Van Aert will ride for Aqua Blue Sport in 2019 following the acquisition of his present team, Sniper Cycling (Vérandas Willems–Crelan).
Aqua Blue Sport, the company behind the www.aquabluesport.com ecommerce platform and the Irish-registered Pro Continental squad of the same name, have confirmed the purchase of Sniper Cycling team and all of its assets in a move designed to broaden the reach of its online cycling marketplace.
Founded in 2016, Aquabluesport.com is a multi-retailer online marketplace, which funds the cycling team, which in turn advertises the website. By adding the Sniper Cycling team to its cycling investments, Aqua Blue Sport hopes to further extend the business across other cycling disciplines such as cyclocross.
Van Aert, the current Cyclocross World Champion will ride in the navy and gold of Aqua Blue Sport for 2019 in both CX and road disciplines. Current Sniper Cycling team co-owner and general manager Nick Nuyens will also join the team management.
In addition, Tom Timmerman, former CEO of United Dutch Breweries, has been appointed as CEO across the Aqua Blue Sport team and website. He said: “I’m very excited to be a part of Aqua Blue Sport and looking forward to driving this project forward, beginning with our franchise cycling store models.”
Aqua Blue Sport founder Rick Delaney said: “This is a golden opportunity to expand our project internationally, and increase our audience for the ecommerce project.
“Wout will be a huge addition to the Aqua Blue Sport squad and we are currently in negotiations with a number of other high-profile riders for the 2019 season. We will hopefully announce these signings shortly.
“I am delighted with this project’s success to date, on and off the road, and the opportunity to acquire Sniper Cycling was a no-brainer for us. Having Sniper Cycling personnel involved with us is a huge bonus as it brings years of experience and expertise to Aqua Blue Sport.”
Commenting on the acquisition, Nuyens said: “Aqua Blue Sport is going from strength to strength, on the road and also off it. I am very excited to be able to be involved in the team going forward.
“There is a lot of potential, and it is a dream for me to be working with the riders that are already there, and will be joining soon. It’s a good day for Sniper Cycling and Aqua Blue Sport.”
