Specialized earlier today announced Tom Boonen, Levi Leipheimer, Sylvain Chavanel, Tony Martin and the other members of the merged Team Omega Pharma-QuickStep will compete on Specialized bikes and wear Specialized helmets in 2012.

"During the three years that we worked with Patrick (Lefevre) and his team the first time around, we won more major races than any other team in professional cycling," Specialized Founder and President Mike Sinyard commented and continued "We won the 2007 World Road Race Championships, back-to-back (Paris-)Roubaix and (Tour of) Flanders victories and a Green Jersey at the Tour de France."

According to Omega Pharma-Quick Step team manager Patrick Lefevre "No other team matched our achievements when we were together the first time. Specialized was a major part of those results by developing bikes and equipment that gave the riders a real edge. This level of excellence and team approach to creating what the riders need is why we are partnering again, for even better results in the future."

Three-time Paris-Roubaix winner Boonen will anchor the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team's classics roster, with the French national champion Chavanel a proven performer in both big one-day and stage races alike. World class rider and TT World Champion Martin of Germany brings a new level of firepower to the squad, while Leipheimer adds his deep experience and stage-race palmares.

According to Specialized, Leipheimer stated the Specialized partnership is like a homecoming for him. While on Gerolsteiner in 2005-06, Leipheimer rode early versions of the Specialized Tarmac SL to victory at the Tour of Germany and the Dauphiné Libéré. "I have really good memories about Specialized, and I'm super excited to go back and see all the changes," Leipheimer said.

The Omega Pharma-Quick-Step riders will have access to the Specialized arsenal of bikes in the elite S-Works range. The Specialized Tarmac SL4 will be the team's workhorse bike. The Specialized Venge, fresh off its Milan-San Remo, Green Jersey and World Championship victories in 2011, will be the choice for team riders looking to minimize drag. Boonen and fellow classics riders will likely opt for the S-Works Roubaix SL3 on the cobblestones. The Specialized Shiv TT time trial bike will serve the riders when racing against the clock.

According to head of Specialized's research and development department Chris D'Aluisio the partnership with Team Omega Pharma-QuickStep will be as significant off the bike as it is in the actual races. Obviously learning from Cervélo TestTeam's pioneering work in this area "The biggest benefit we expect from this partnership is building better bikes and equipment, because the best riders push us to continually improve."

This isn't the first time Specialized Founder and President Mike Sinyard and Quick-Step team manager Patrick Lefevere have partnered. The two previously joined forces for the 2007-09 seasons. A photo included in the Specialized press release shows a Specialized bike featuring ZIPP wheels, which causes Roadcycling.com to speculate that ZIPP will be joining the new team as sponsor.

On top of the news that Specialized will be sponsoring Team Omega Pharma-QuickStep in 2012 current rumor has it that Mark Cavendish will be joining the new team in 2012.