Transfer News: Latest on comings and goings

Aussie Brenton Jones joins French team Delko Marseille whilst Julian Alaphilippe, Fernando Gaviria and Maximiliano Richeze extend their contracts with Quick-Step Floors

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Transfer News: Latest on comings and goings

Rumoured to be one of a number of riders leaving JLT Condor, winner of at least nine events in 2017, Brenton Jones is moving to Pro Conti Team Delko Marseille. Whilst the team is not a household name in Britain, or Australia, their calendar in 2017 was full of races that are such as Etoile Besseges, Paris-Nice, Paris Roubiax, Tro Bro Leon and many more

In a team press release, Brenton says of the move, “I am really looking forward to the opportunity to race for Delko Marseille Provence KTM in 2018. I am super motivated for the year ahead and hope to bring the tea success. With an exciting race calendar and a long history in the sport, the team is a good fit for me and I’m thrilled to return to the Pro Continental ranks”.

Quickstep keep key riders for 2018

Julian Alaphilippe, Fernando Gaviria and Maximiliano Richeze extend their contracts with Quick-Step Floors

What a year it’s been so far for Fernando Gaviria! The prodigious Colombian has racked up eight wins since kickstarting his season in January, including four spectacular stage victories at the Giro d’Italia, where he enjoyed a spell in the pink jersey before going all the way to Milan, capping off a remarkable race and adorning his trophy case with the famed maglia ciclamino.

One of the peloton’s standout riders since making his debut on the big scene, Gaviria has picked up 17 wins so far in the iconic Quick-Step Floors jersey, and will have the opportunity to go for more in the future and enhance his palmares, as he has signed a two-year contract extension with the World Tour team classification leader.

“I am very happy to stay with the team who gave me the chance to turn pro and brought me into European cycling. When I look back on the last two years and see how I’ve developed and grown as a rider, I am more than confident staying with this team is the right decision. I feel at home and appreciated here, and Patrick Lefevere puts a lot of confidence in me, so it just feels like a natural step to continue my progression with this outstanding team”, said Fernando Gaviria, the first Colombian to win the points classification at a Grand Tour.

What does the future hold for the 22-year-old after his most successful season to date? “After what I’ve achieved in the Giro, I think I am heading towards the next big step of my career. I am especially keen on testing my potential and doing well in the classics, races I have always had a special love for. Quick-Step Floors is one of the greatest ever teams in these races, so I think I can learn a lot from the guys here. I look forward to continuing my presence in the fast finishes and grabbing my chances when and wherever they show in next season.”

Maximiliano Richeze has played a quintessential role in Fernando Gaviria’s success since joining the team, ahead of the 2016 season; the Argentinean proved that at 34 years of age he still is a world-class lead-out man, one of a kind, whose calm and experience make the difference in the crucial moments of a race, so it was only logical that he was rewarded with a new contract stretching until 2019.

“Quick-Step Floors is one big family and I’m delighted to be part of it for two more years. I’m a pro since 2006 and to continue at such a high level makes me very proud, especially as I’m doing it with the most successful World Tour outfit. I’m also happy that my partnership with Fernando will continue, and we hope to get many other victories together”, said Max, a double stage winner this season at Vuelta a San Juan.

“We are very pleased to make this announcement. Fernando’s potential is huge, he’s one of the most talented riders out there and I dare to say his results so far have been only an appetizer for what we are going to see in the years to come. His potential, determination and mentality recommend him for many great feats, I’m sure of that”, said Quick-Step Floors CEO Patrick Lefevere. “Concerning Max Richeze, he brings invaluable experience to our squad and renewing his contract was the natural thing to do. Having them in the team for two more years makes us very happy!”
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Julian Alaphilippe extends with Quick-Step Floors

The Frenchman will continue with the team that launched him onto the pro scene back in 2014.

One of the best young riders of the peloton, touted by many as a future superstar of the sport, charismatic, driven by a huge passion and hunger for success and always with a big smile on his face, Julian Alaphilippe has committed with Quick-Step Floors for two more years.

This season, Julian took Paris-Nice by storm, riding to victory on the race’s sole individual time trial and conquering both the green and white jersey – a performance no one else has achieved in the entire history of the event – before sprinting to third from a reduced group in his maiden Milano-Sanremo, a result which further underlined his potential and versatility.

Unfortunately, a knee injury put him on the sidelines and forced the 25-year-old to skip the Ardennes Classics, the Tour of California (where he triumphed in 2016) and his beloved Tour de France. After overcoming this setback, Alaphilippe returned to racing two weeks ago, at the Grand Prix Cerami, from there flying to Spain, where he climbed to an impressive third place on the opening stage of Vuelta a Burgos.

“It was always my goal to stay with the team. For me, continuing with Quick-Step Floors is the perfect scenario. I’ve made many good friends here and I feel at home, it’s basically my second family. The support I have from both Patrick and the team gives me a lot of confidence. Extending my contract means I can focus 100% on the important things and continue my progression. We have a really strong team that can do well in almost every race, so I could not be more pleased with where I am. This motivates me to get many other great results with this fantastic team”, a delighted Julian said after putting pen on paper.

Patrick Lefevere explained why extending Julian’s contract for two more years came as an easy decision: “We signed with him three and a half years ago, as we saw a bright future in him and believed we could help him become even better and reach his goals. Since then, Julian has grown a lot and we are only confident he has not reached his full potential. Every rider we sign with is because we think he has a future in front of him and because we believe we can win with him, and it’s no exception with Julian.”

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