News
Road

Bakelants signs for Ag2r-La Mondiale

By Cycling News

published 12 September 2014

Belgian leaves Omega Pharma-QuickStep

Comments

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Image 1 of 3

Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) signs autographs for some young fans(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma) tries to go after Alessandro De Marchi(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Jan Bakelants will ride for Ag2r-La Mondiale for the next two seasons, the team has confirmed. The Belgian, who is leaving Omega Pharma-QuickStep, expects to have more freedom to ride for himself and to concentrate on the Classics.

Critérium du Dauphiné: Bakelants wins stage 6

Bakelants to join AG2R-La Mondiale in 2015

Bakelants confirms move to AG2R-La Mondiale

“I am really happy to confirm that the next 2 seasons I will be part of ‪@AG2RLAMONDIALE “ Bakelants wrote via Twitter. “I also want to thank ‪@opqscyclingteam for Confidence and the great spirit in which the allowed me to perform my passion in the past season.”

Bakelants, 28, turned professional with Topsport Vlaanderen in 2009. He rode for Omega Pharma-Lotto in 2010 and 2011, and RadioShack-Nissan in 2012-2013, before signing for QuickStep this season. This year he won the sixth stage at the Critérium du Dauphiné.

2014 “was not a disappointment, I am really happy that I was riding,’” Bakelants told Sporza.be. “I'm very grateful to Patrick Lefevere. He helped me last year when I had problems finding a team. I definitely will not forget that.”

“I will get a little more freedom than at OPQS. Whether I become a leader? That's an exaggeration,” he said. "But in the classics, I will now have a little more freedom. I have confidence that I can do beautiful things the next two years.”