SRAM and Roompot/Orange
SRAM and Roompot/Orange
Paul Horta-Hopkins
SRAM sponsors all Dutch Pro Continental team, Roompot/Orange
With SRAM already sponsoring AG2R-La Mondiale in the World Tour rankings, as we mentioned previously, they have also announced a partnership with new all Dutch team Roompot/Orange.
This new Dutch Pro-Continental cycling team is interesting as it was started by three very well known former Dutch professionals: Erik Breukink, Jean-Paul van Poppel and Michael Boogerd. Unsurprisingly then, the eighteen man team are all Dutch, with arguably and again, very interestingly, the most famous being Johnny Hoogerland, the toughest man in cycling. The team also has something of a family feel to it, with four members of the Kreder family present: Michel, Raymond and Wesley will ride, while Dennis wields a spanner as one of the team’s mechanics.
We shouldn’t have any difficulty picking out Roompot/Orange in their distinctive orange kit, makes a change from the tide of black sweeping through the World Tour peloton
“Setting up a new professional cycling team from scratch requires a lot of hard work and a clear objective in mind. Our objective is to give opportunity to young talented Dutch riders to develop themselves into winners,” Team Manager Henk Schipper said. “Having the best possible equipment is key to success. We are extremely happy with the support of SRAM. Being able to compete with the lightest components available is a clear advantage for our riders, which will boost their morale. In return, we hope to be able to give meaningful feedback to the SRAM product development team. As a team we look forward to a successful partnership with SRAM and we can’t wait for the 2015 season to begin.”
Roompot/Orange were presented to the public at the Rotterdam Six
The team launch was held before the opening of the Zesdaagse (the Six Day track meet) in Rotterdam. The team rode their Isaac bikes in a friendly race before joining the crowd for a meet and greet session. The team’s first race will be the Challenge Ciclista Mallorca in Spain, a five day stage race that isn’t, as riders are allowed to compete in as many stages as they want or not, allowing for a ‘relaxed’ start to the season.
Roompot/Orange will be riding on Isaac Element frames
The team bikes are another interesting element to this team, and the team will be riding Isaac Element SL Team Edition frames, equipped with SRAM Red groupsets. The team should be well supported as SRAM has it’s European Sales and Service headquarters in Nijkerk, Holland.
“We found it impossible to miss out on the chance to partner with a project with this much potential and enthusiasm,” said Patrick Brandwagt, SRAM BV General Manager. “SRAM has operated a Dutch office for 20 years, so joining with the staff and riders of the new Roompot/Orange Cycling Team to race on SRAM group sets, Quarq Power Measurement and Zipp controls is an extra special thing.”
SRAM will be supplying Roompot/Orange with their Red groupset
As well as riding SRAM’s lightweight Red groupset Roompot/Orange will be using Zipp Service Course SL bars, stems and seatposts. We had a brief look at the new Service Course SL items here and hope to have a review soon.
Zipp’s Service Course SL stems, bars and seatpost will support Roompot/Oranges riders
Training with power is vital for pro-cyclists nowadays and SRAM will supplying Roompot/Orange with Quarq RED power meters. The Quarq Red captures accurate power readings from both legs and uses SRAM Red’s Exogram hollow carbon crank arms in a stiff, lightweight package.
Roompot/Orange’s riders will be using SRAM’s Red 22 Quarq chainset to record their training and race power data
Key riders for Roompot/Orange are:
Johnny Hoogerland – 2013 National road race champion of the Netherlands, former polka-dot jersey wearer at Tour de France and after THAT crash, the guy Chuck Norris calls when the going gets tough!
Marc de Maar – 2014 stage winner and second overall, Tour of Norway.
Raymond Kreder – 2014 1st Tour de l’Ain – Stage 1 Doucier – Montrevel-en-Bresse
Dylan Groenewegen – 2014 Under 23 Tour of Flanders champion and promising young sprinter.
Tim Kerkhof – 2014 Dutch Under 23 National Road Champion.
Mike Terpstra – Consistent top 10 finishes, younger brother of Paris-Roubaix champion Niki Terpstra.
And if you’re wondering who Roompot are, they are a Dutch holiday company, who specialise in campsites and holiday homes in Holland and Germany.
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