Maxime Bouet (Ag2r) cornering (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Maxime Bouet (Ag2r-La Mondiale) rolls to the start.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Maxime Bouet (Ag2r-La Mondiale)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Maxime Bouet has signed a two-year deal with Omega Pharma-QuickStep, bringing to an end his long association with AG2R La Mondiale. The 27-year-old, who is currently riding the Vuelta a España has been signed as key helper for Rigoberto Urán, although his new boss expects the Frenchman to develop into a winner as well.
"We are looking for riders who can stay with Urán in the mountains and for us Maxime fits that bill. My team directors are positive about this rider and his talents and that’s really important that they have confidence,” Patrick Lefevere told Cyclingnews.
“I hope that one day that Maxime can win stages in races like the Dauphiné or Pais Basque, but in the big tours he can be a very important rider for Urán.”
Urán’s race programme has yet to be finalised for next year, with the Colombian also riding the Vuelta a España. He finished on the podium in the Giro d’Italia in May and is seen as Omega Pharma’s main threat in Grand Tours.
“He can ride for a podium or top five in the Vuelta and from there we’ll make a programme for next year but nothing will be decided into the winter.”
Bouet it seems is a direct replacement for Wout Poels, who has told Lefevere that he will not re-sign for the team. Both Belkin and Team Sky have been linked with the rider.
“He has a lot of promise but had some bad luck this year with crashes. However he’s really motivated to join the team.”
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“I’m happy about this deal,” Bouet said in a press release.
"I will work hard during this winter and next year to try and be as good as I can in the mountains and improve my capacity there. I’d like to also thank my former team for the big opportunity they gave me in the last years. I had a great few years with them and want to thank them for their help. “
Daniel Benson was the Editor in Chief at Cyclingnews.com between 2008 and 2022. Based in the UK, he joined the Cyclingnews team in 2008 as the site's first UK-based Managing Editor. In that time, he reported on over a dozen editions of the Tour de France, several World Championships, the Tour Down Under, Spring Classics, and the London 2012 Olympic Games. With the help of the excellent editorial team, he ran the coverage on Cyclingnews and has interviewed leading figures in the sport including UCI Presidents and Tour de France winners.
