Team CSC had already closed out its lineup for 2008, but 24-year-old Lasse Bøchman was so impressive at the team’s training camp this month in Mallorca that team boss Bjarne Riis decided to offer him a contract.

“Lasse has impressed beyond expectations down here. He did really well last season, when he was a stagiare, but the way he’s performed here leaves us in no doubt that he deserves to get a contract right away. He’s a huge talent and he’s proved that to us all here in Majorca,” Riis said on the team’s web page. “He’s got the right attitude and it’s obvious that he’s been eager to prove himself during the camp. We weren’t actually planning on any more additions to the team this year, but Lasse is simply too big a talent to pass up. He deserves to get a contract and I think we’ll get to see a lot more of him.”

Bøchman, who rode with Team CSC last summer as a stagiare, will stay with the Danish team of Glud & Marstrand and join Team CSC some time this spring.

“I’m really proud to be given this opportunity. It’s a childhood dream come true. I was well aware that it was now or never, so I was keen to do well during this training camp,” he said. “I got the chance to do some races with the team last year, but I didn’t get a contract then. I was determined to be on absolute top form for the first camp. I was and I’m extremely happy to sign as a pro with Team CSC.”