Aqua Blue Sport has acquired Vérandas Willems–Crelan. It is also promising to sign more riders including big names, is expanding into cyclocross and is also set to open a shop franchise system. Above, the man behind the many moves, owner Rick Delaney (Photos by Karen M Edwards)
Aqua Blue Sport acquires Vérandas Willems cycling team
Aqua Blue Sport has responded to reports that it was to merge with Vérandas Willems–Crelan by saying it has "acquired" the Belgian cycling team.
The team riding under the current name and livery of Vérandas Willems–Crelan is called Sniper Cycling.
Aqua Blue Sport said it has “acquired all of its assets”. That would mean assuming responsibility for the contracts in place for next season.
It remains unclear what sponsors, if any, would come from Vérandas Willems–Crelan into the new team.
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And it was also unclear what impact the changes would have on the riders currently on the rosters of both teams.
Aqua Blue Sport issued a statement today after several media outlets, including stickybottle, reported the teams looked set to merge.
The Irish squad broke the news by saying cyclocross world champion Wout Van Aert would ride for it next year because it had acquired the assets of his team.
Aqua Blue Sport said the changes meant Van Aert would ride in its colours on the road and in cyclocross races.
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World cyclocross champion Wout van Aert will ride for the team currently known as Aqua Blue Sport in ‘cross and on the road, says Rick Delaney.
Current Sniper Cycling team co-owner and general manager Nick Nuyens will also join Aqua Blue Sport’s management.
In other news, Tom Timmerman - the former chief executive of United Dutch Breweries - has been appointed chief executive of the Aqua Blue Sport team and its retailing interests.
And Aqua Blue Sport is also set to roll out ‘franchise cycling store models’. However, no further information about that was supplied.
“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,” Aqua Blue Sport owner Rick Delaney said.
“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.”
Nuyens said Aqua Blue Sport was “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,” he added.
“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.”
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