According to the Leopard SA., Leopard Development Team will continue in 2014 as the UCI Pro Continental team with the roster of 12 riders, mainly under-23.

As it was announced by team manager Markus Zingen via official press release, the team till go on with their mission to provide young riders with the opportunities to develop their skills by participating in European UCI events, primarily  in Luxembourg, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Thus, exactly the same as in previous two years, the 12-riders roster will mainly consist of young, under-23 years old cyclists, among which six originate from Luxembourg. For this reason, the team plans to collaborate closely with the Luxembourg National Federation.  

“We want to stay true to the mission of a development team: offer opportunities to young cyclists to develop as athletes in a professional environment and to prepare them for a potential career in the UCI WorldTour,” said manager Markus Zingen via press release.

“We will be able to offer them a balanced race program and a good team spirit.”

Five riders will return to Leopard Development for 2014: Piero Baffi, Alex Kirsch, Pit Schlechter, Tom Thill and Joël Zangerle.

Alongside newcomers, there are: Marco König, the 2013 junior German road and cyclocross champion; Matthias Plarre, overall winner of the 2013 Bundesliga; Massimo Morabito, U-23 Luxembourg cyclocross champ; sprinter and track racer Kevin Feiereisen; sprinter and all-rounder Dennis Coenen; climber Patrick Olesen; and Florian Salzinger, who will also serve as a directeur sportif alongside Zingen and former Luxembourg champion Tom Flammang.

Leopard Development Team final roster for 2014 consists of:

Piero Baffi (ITA), Dennis Coenen (BEL), Kevin Feiereisen (LUX), Alex Kirsch (LUX), Marco König (GER), Matthias Plarre (GER), Massimo Morabito (LUX), Patrick Olesen (DEN), Florian Salzinger (GER), Pit Schlechter (LUX), Tom Thill (LUX) and Joël Zangerle (LUX)