Wout van Aert has extended his contract with Jumbo-Visma, agreeing to stay with the Dutch team until 2024.
Ineos Grenadiers were reportedly interested in signing Van Aert but he denied speaking to other teams and opted to stay with Jumbo-Visma.
“Also after 2021, I am a very proud member of Team Jumbo-Visma. I am very happy with that”, Van Aert said in a video message shot during the team’s training camp in Alicante.
“I really wanted to extend because I have become a lot better with this team. I think everyone has seen that I have made huge steps forward as a rider in recent years. I was always in shape when I needed to. I owe a lot to the team to be able to work towards my goals.
“The decision that I wanted to re-sign was made pretty pretty quickly in my mind. Of course there are other things that come into play and that required some time. The intention was good on both sides and I was confident that everything was going to be alright.
“I am very happy that I can pursue further successes in this familiar environment. I feel very good here and the past years have shown that I can do justice here. I don’t have to explain to you that there was more interest in me, but I have never had talks with another team.
“My goal was to extend the contract. We have become the best team in the world. It was best for me to stay. I am glad that it is done and I am relieved that I can speak out about it.”
Van Aert is currently at pre-season training camp with his team but will return to Belgium for the weekend to compete at Zilvermeercross in Mol in the build-up to the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 31.
3 more years @WoutvanAert✍🏼 “I am very happy that I can pursue further successes in this familiar environment”Read more -> https://t.co/lkqLx2NK2t #Wout2024 pic.twitter.com/dRjDtRLveOJanuary 21, 2021
