Trek-Segafredo looks likely to take Team Sky head on in 2017
Trek-Segafredo's 2017 WorldTour line up looks impressive. Contador to target 2017 Tour de France with strong support from the likes of Mollema, Pantano and Hernández. Degenkolb, de Kort and Stuyven provide powerful Classics lineup. Steven de Jongh extends sport directors depth. It's all there!
Alberto Contador said recently “It is more Sky than Froome that is unbeatable”.
There is little doubt that Trek-Segafredo has been one of the most active teams in the transfer market with John Degenkolb and Koen de Kort both announced a few weeks, ago and Alberto Contador and Jarlinson Pantano now officially confirmed..
With Segafredo coming on board as Sponsor and the retirement of Fabian Cancellara, Ryder Hesjedal and Frank Schleck and a few more transfer changes, the team's General Manager Luca Guercilena has been in strong position to build a stronger and more cohesive team.
Trek-Segafredo was excited to confirm that Paris-Roubaix and Milan-Sanremo winner John Degenkolb and his right-hand man Koen De Kort have signed multi-year contracts with the team. Degenkolb signed through 2019, while De Kort inked a two-year deal.
German John Degenkolb is indisputably one of the stars of cycling. At 27 years of age, he has gathered a palmares that includes Paris-Roubaix, Milan-Sanremo, Gent-Wevelgem, Paris-Bourges, Paris-Tours, the Vattenfall Cyclassics and numerous stages at the Vuelta a España, the Giro d’Italia, Critérium du Dauphiné and Paris-Nice.
With Degenkob a likely leader for the Classics along with Jasper Stuyven and Alberto Contador to lead a the line up in the Grand Tours with Bauke Mollema, the team would have a strong outlook for next season. Team member Nizzolo continues to develop and impress. Mollema, Rast, and Irizar renewed contracts with Trek-Segafredo earlier this year.
“A rider like Alberto makes you confident, reassures you,” he said.
27-year-old Pantano, who currently rides for a IAM Cycling squad set to fold at the end of the season, represented Colombia in the Rio Olympics, a late addition after the withdrawal of Nairo Quintana. Pantano said he hopes to ride the Tour again in his new digs.
“There were several teams who were interested in me, but I took this decision because it is the one I always wanted,” he said.
Pantano stole the show at the 2016 Tour in the Jura and the Alps. He won the Tour’s 15th stage in Culoz and added two other runner-up finishes as a tireless breakaway artist in the final week of the race.
Contador: It's Official
Contador: “I am thrilled about the opportunity that is in front of me. Trek-Segafredo is a very attractive and ambitious project that really inspires me. I had some excellent conversations with the team management, and we have a lot of goals and priorities in common. The big objective is to try and win the most important races on the calendar - first and foremost the Tour de France.”
“The sporting side was the key point in my decision. This team is focused on performance, and there’s a really strong group of riders with experience in all kinds of terrain, not only the mountains. I like that it’s such an open, international group of riders. I am convinced that this team can provide me with the best structure and bring me in the best conditions to the races. I race to win, and I am determined to get intensely invested in this team.”
General Manager Luca Guercilena: “Alberto is a formidable rider and a real fighter. He’s a champion. There is really no one like Alberto in the current peloton, and we are very happy to welcome him to the team. With Alberto, I believe we are taking the next step in developing our team. Next year we’ll be stronger and all-around better and broader.”
Jesús Hernández, Contador’s trusted teammate from 2000 to 2005 and from 2009 to present, is also joining Trek-Segafredo: “I am really happy to come back to Trek because I also rode a Trek bike in 2009. Alberto is like my brother and coming back with him to the Trek family is really something special. It means a lot to me."
“2017 will bring once again a new experience and so I am really looking forward to starting the next season with renewed ambition. Obviously, my main ambition is to support Alberto and the other leaders of the team. When they are happy with my work, I will be happy as well.”
Finally, the team is welcoming Steven de Jongh to the staff of the team. He joins the existing group of experienced sports directors at Trek-Segafredo. He has been supporting Alberto Contador from the team car since 2013 and is a trusted colleague of the Spaniard.
Guercilena: “It goes without saying that I am very happy to welcome Steven de Jongh to our team. We were looking to enlarge our group of directors for quite some time now. Next year the race calendar will be more extended, and we will have more riders on the team. With an excellent director such as Steven, our group of very experienced and equally outstanding directors will be more versatile.”
Now all signings and contracts are official, Trek-Segafredo have even more strength and depth to win many Classics and Grand Tours, most likely targeting the 2017 Tour de France.
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