The work of Adriaan Helmantel (NED) and Morten Bennekou (DEN) at Team Sunweb is to come to end, as both trainers leave the team to take on new challenges. After joining the team at the beginning of 2016 Bennekou joins the Danish national cycling federation as Head of Performance whilst after six years within their ranks, Helmantel leaves for a different challenge elsewhere.
About leaving Team Sunweb, Helmantel said: “It is with pain in my heart that I say goodbye to this beautiful team, where I feel at home. I’ve worked with all riders and staff with much fun and professionalism and look back on this period with a smile. In every person’s life, sometimes you need to reconsider what you’re doing and together with the offer I received I decided to take on this new challenge, in a new environment. I am very thankful to Team Sunweb for all of the great memories and I will always follow what the team are up to in the future.”
“I look back on three very nice and memorable years working for and with Team Sunweb,” Bennekou said. “I gained a lot of new experiences with the team and I was part of many very exciting development projects with different kinds of riders. In that perspective it’s also with quite some mixed feelings that I leave now. The offer of the role of Head of Performance at the Danish cycling federation will not come around so often so it’s an opportunity I feel I must take now. I want to thank Team Sunweb and all the riders and staff there and wish them all the best for the coming season and the future.”
Head of coaching, Rudi Kemna (NED) said: “With Adriaan and Morten we see two very experienced and highly valued trainers go. Both have been great colleagues and have done so much for the team in their roles. Our motto is keep challenging, and this is exactly what they do with taking on the challenges that have come on their paths, and we’re proud of that. On behalf of the entire team I want to thank both for their huge effort and dedication and wish them all the best for the future.”
Team Sunweb will announce replacements shortly.
