PARIS, Aug 2, 2011 (AFP) – Newly-merged elite Belgian cycling team Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step signed three riders on Tuesday including Slovakian twins Martin and Peter Velits.

Aside from the 26-year-old Velits twins, Peter being the pre-eminent one having finished third in last year’s Tour of Spain, the team also added Belgian Stijn Vandenbergh to their ranks.

This came hours after ace French rider Sylvain Chavanel signed a two-year extension to his present deal with Quick Step.

The new trio also signed two year contracts leaving team manager Patrick Lefevere delighted.

“Martin, Peter and Stijn will be three crucial elements in our team,” said Lefevere, who will also be in charge of the newly merged team when it assumes its new name in January 2012.

“Stijn is a valuable asset, a classics specialist and the heart and soul of a team.

“Martin and Peter come from a very promising country, who are gaining in influence in the cycling world.

“Martin has already proven himself at youth level and then in his first seasons as a professional.

“We are counting a lot on him, and we believe that he is a rider capable of improving.

“Peter won a stage of the Tour of Spain and took third place in the overall standings in 2010, and aside from that had some good results in the last Tour de France.

“Peter Velits is a complete rider who can challenge for podium placings on the major Tours.”

Peter Velits said he was thrilled to be joining the new Belgian superteam.

“I am really happy to be joining such a prestigious team, with huge ambitions for the future.

“It is doubly satisfying because I can continue to ride alongside my brother Martin.

“My target is to continue to improve progressively and to repay the confidence shown in me by the team.”

On Monday it had been announced that Quick Step would merge with Omega Pharma-Lotto prompting the latter team’s star rider Philippe Gilbert to express his disappointment at hearing the news from the press rather than the team and suggested he might leave.