January 5, 2003 – Belgian sprinter, Franky Van Haesebroucke, will be back with the men in blue, returning to the Navigators Insurance Cycling Team in 2004. The former Flemish Kermesse star began his professional career with the Belgian Collstrop team before joining the Navigators team in 2000 and 2001. Van Haesebroucke returns to the American team in a new capacity as the team's assistant Director Sportif and Equipment Manager.
Van Haesebroucke was a familiar site on the podium of numerous National Racing Calendar (NRC) events during his two years as a professional in North America, and was a notorious kermesse specialist in his native Belgium. More recently, he served as the Flanders Iteam Nova assistant director, occasionally racing the Belgian elite amateur circuit. The affable and popular Van Haesebroucke is no stranger to the many English-speaking riders trying to cut their teeth on the challenging roads of Flanders. He has been an invaluable source of logistical and emotional support for many young riders from Australia, New Zealand, and America, as they try to adjust to the demanding environment away from their homeland.
Van Haesebroucke joins a Navigators staff including Chief Mechanic Neil Aldridge, Head Soigneur and Physiotherapist Sergey Davidenko, and associate Soigneur Maripage Grubic. “I am very excited to be working with Franky again,” said Navigators Director Sportif Ed Beamon. “We have been talking about this possibility for some time, and I'm very happy we've been able to put things together. Franky is a good friend, and has been a tremendous help to the Navigators program in the past, as rider and supporter. We are really going to enjoy having him back in an official capacity, and I expect he will be a great addition to a very competent staff.”
Van Haesebroucke will be joining the team on Feb 1st at their scheduled training camp in Donoratico, Italy.