Jukka Vastaranta (26) is going to race for the Trek-Brentjens MTB Racing Team per direct. Together with teammates Jelmer Pietersma (Ned), Lukas Kaufmann (SUI), Tim Wijnants (Bel) ,Frank Beemer (Ned) and Irjan Luttenberg (Ned) he will participate in national and international races.
Brentjens :
“ I have met with Jukka in the Zillertal Bike Challenge in Austria. When I became European Champion in 2001 in St Wendel, Jukka also became European champion in the junior category. Then he went to ride on the road under the supervision of my nephew Frans Maassen from Rabobank. I believe he is a very talented rider, but he had bad luck due to health problems the last years. These are solved now and I want to give him a chance. I am confident he can ride some good results this year. ”
Vastaranta :
“I started to do mtb races this year in end of May. I was doing well in Spanish races, so I decided to do some Marathons in Europe and I was really lucky to go to Zillertal where I met Bart. Bart knew me already and after leaving him behind on the mountains a few times during the race he decided that I am strong enough for his team this season. Sometimes it is good that a Team manager is also on the bike.... Now I am happy to be on a strong team again after few years with normal work and racing in the same time. I feel that I have a good change now to get back to a high level. I have some experience from the road, from many kind of problems and a little bit from mtb too.”
· Jukka Vastaranta (29 March 1984) born in Tampere, Finnland lives in Spain. Vastaranta started mountainbiking when he was 9 years old and he rode his first mountainbike race when he was only 11 years old. Vastaranta rode both MTB and road until 17 years old. Then he only was riding on the road for 5 years with Rabobank and 1 year for Jartazi. In 2006 and 2007 he had to stop due to health problems. He started mountainbiking again in 2008.
· RESULTS: MOUNTAIN BIKING:
European Champion junior 2001
Finnish Champion elite 2001
Finnish Champion XC and Marathon 2009
ROAD:
Winner World Cup junior 2001
Second World Championship 2002
Winner stage Ster Electro tour 2005
Second Tour of Luxemburg 2005
Personal data:
Date of birth: 23.03.1984
Place of birth: Tampere
Place of residence: Tampere, Finland
Height: 171cmcm
Weight: 63 kg
Eye Colour: Greyblue
Hair colour: blond
Hobbies: Cross countryski
Mountainbiking, Sauna
Homepage:
http://www.jukkavastaranta.com
