Team Argos-Shimano has finalized their roster for the 2014 season by signing Sea Keong Loh. With the recruitment, the team continues its effort to support Asian riders in their quest to reach the top level of the sport and the Malaysian is looking forward to benefiting from the professional environment at the Dutch team.

Due to long time sponsor Shimano, the Dutch Argos-Shimano team has been dedicated to the development of Asian riders and has had several Japanese and Chinese riders on its roster. In 2014, the team will continue its efforts as it has signed the first ever Malaysian to join a WorldTour team.

Sea Keong Loh started his professional cycling career in 2006, riding for the Marco Polo Cycling Team. He has since gained valuable racing experience in Europe and made history this year by becoming the first Malaysian to win the Jelajah Malaysia race. Loh comes to Team Argos-Shimano from the OCBC Singapore Continental Cycling Team. 

“I feel honored to be selected for the team,” he said. “It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication to reach this level. I am looking forward to working with the team, as I think I can benefit greatly from the sporting environment that the team offers. With good guidance and a solid program I will be focused on developing as a cyclist and reaching my full potential.”

General manager Iwan Spekenbrink hopes to see Loh following the same upwards trajectory as fellow Asian Cheng Ji who has become known as the "breakaway killer" due to his hard work on the front of the peloton to set up the team's main sprinters.

“We see a lot of potential in Loh,” Spekenbrink sai. “We have followed him throughout the season, and he has achieved some good results. When we select riders for the team, results are important but so is personality. With his positive attitude and eagerness to improve, Loh’s character fits perfectly in the team.

“We believe that Asian cycling has great potential, and it is our aim to help develop Asian riders and bring them to the highest level. We have experienced this with Cheng Ji who has been part of our project since the beginning. It has been impressive to see the progress he has made since his arrival on the European pro scene; he is now racing in races like the Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España and Milan–San Remo, for example. We will be aiming to follow a similar path with Loh as well.”

With the signing of Loh, the 2014 roster is now complete.