After 10 years in the WorldTour, Jan Bakelants (34) made the switch to Hilaire Van Der Schueren’s team last winter. He was able to convince and can now stay two years longer and so will return to the WorldTour.
“I was happy to be able to start here last winter. I was convinced that I could make a difference in this team and I think that my sporting achievements and experience also proved to be an added value”, says Bakelants. “I don’t hide the fact that I feel good here. I have fun
and can at the same time achieve good results. I am already looking forward to the new collaboration with Aike Visbeek and Valerio Piva, who bring their experience from the WorldTour. It’s great that I can extend. The news of the switch to the World Tour was the icing on the cake. “
The team management sees Bakelants as an important pawn for the coming seasons. “He can become an extension of the team management in the peloton”, Hilaire Van der Schueren thinks.
There was also good news for another Belgian. 29-year-old Tom Devriendt also gets a two-year contract extension. Devriendt has been driving for the team for six years, but was hampered by a knee injury this season. “Because of those knee problems, I wasn’t able to show much in the second part of the season, but my results in the spring, my dedication to the team and my victory in the Tour of Austria last year gave me enough confidence to stay well. The team management knows that I am grateful to them for their confidence. “
“I feel very good in this team. The servant role suits me and I am satisfied that I get the freedom from time to time to take my own chance. That may change now, but the chance to have a grand tour or other nice races. To ride is fantastic. It is not self-evident to race at the highest level for a whole season so I have already started training. ”
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