In a bid to secure its place among the ranks of the top teams taking on the UCI’s ProTour, the Dutch banking consortium Rabobank has extended its sponsorship of the cycling team that bears its name for an additional two years. The bank, which has sponsored the team since 1996, will continue to do so until the end of 2008.

Beginning in 2005, teams on the ProTour circuit will be able to have four-year licenses, in accordance with new UCI regulations.

Milan-San Remo winner Oscar Freire, American Levi Leipheimer and Dutch riders Michael Boogerd and Erik Dekker are among the team's most prominent members.
Copyright AFP2004