Trek-Segafredo have announced that they have reached agreements with 33-year-old Australian cyclist Will Clarke and 26-year-old Alex Kirsch of Luxembourg for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
For Will Clarke, who is currently racing with EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale, it will be a reunion with Trek and a few staff members from his first professional team Leopard-Trek in 2011. Clarke is a well respected team rider and is also strong in time trials, notably short and technical prologues, which has counted for four of the nine victories on his palmarès.
Clarke said: “It’s a huge opportunity for me to be joining Trek-Segafredo. It’s a big professional team that I have always admired, and I really can’t wait to go back. Leopard-Trek was my first professional team, so I’m looking forward to working again with some familiar faces. I am also really happy to be riding with Richie Porte. We are both from Northern Tasmania, and we last rode together in 2008 on the Praties Team where he won the Tour of Tasmania. I hope to assist him and the rest of the team in winning some big WorldTour races now. I am really motivated to get the best out of myself for the team.”
Alex Kirsch, the double runner-up at the 2018 Luxembourg National Championships (both TT and road race), arrives from Pro Continental team WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic. Four years ago, he rode as a stagiaire for Trek-Segafredo and now has made significant progress to step up to the WorldTour.
Kirsch said: “I am looking forward to joining Trek-Segafredo and making my debut in the WorldTour. The team has high ambitions for the classics, which I am excited about. Having now ridden for a Belgian team, I know the roads and the culture very well, and I hope my experience and qualities will add value to the team.
“It will be my goal, of course, to help John (Degenkolb), Jasper (Stuyven) and Mads (Pedersen) go for wins in those races. I’m also sure that with this team, with its structure, will help keep me progressing and to reach another level. I can say that I am super excited!”
Trek-Segafredo General Manager, Luca Guercilena: “Obviously we know Will (Clarke) and Alex (Kirsch) already and we know they are both very powerful riders. We are convinced they will be valuable assets for the team. Will will reinforce our team time trial squad, and Alex will be of great help in the Classics. With them, we have a solid base for our Classics team and our group for the stage races.”
