Wellens extends with Lotto-Soudal until 2018

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Stage winner Tim Wellens on the final Paris-Nice podium.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Tim Wellens took out one of the biggest victories of his career when he beat Alberto Contador on the final stage of Paris-Nice last weekend. Off the back of that performance, the young Belgian has extended his contract with the Lotto-Soudal team for another year.

Wellen’s current contract with Lotto-Soudal was due to end next season, and this new deal secures his place in the squad until at least the end of 2018. “Since I became a professional cyclist in 2012, my contract has been prolonged a few times, and I never got to the final year of my contract. Such a season can cause stress sometimes, but so far I never had to experience that,” Wellens said in a team press release.

“I don’t care if I get offers from other teams. Lotto Soudal is the best team to develop myself,” he said. In this team, young riders get chances. I was able to become a protected rider here, in other teams this would be less likely. The young Belgians such as Tiesj Benoot, Sean De Bie, Louis Vervaeke and myself stimulate each other to become better riders and also the cooperation with the more experienced riders is very good. We motivate and trigger each other. The perfect mix.”

“The team really wants Tim to be part of Lotto Soudal during the following years and also Tim looks forward to this. Then it’s logical that we come to a long-term agreement thanks to which both parties can fulfil their ambitions,” said team manager Marc Sergeant. “The progression that Tim has made since he’s a professional cyclist is impressive. No one can predict how much potential he has, but in my opinion, Tim can become an established name in the one-day races which suit him. Besides that, we’ll have to discover which limits and possibilities he has in the short and long stage races.”