Team Giant-Alpecin is pleased to announce that both Tom Dumoulin (NED) and Warren Barguil (FRA) have renewed their contracts with the team. The agreements extend their commitment for another three years, until the end of 2018. Dumoulin is currently in his fourth season with the team, having joined in 2012, and Barguil joined the team that same year as a stagiaire.
Dumoulin has achieved eight pro wins to date. His best results at the highest pro level include two stage wins at this year’s Vuelta a España, along with six days in the red leader’s jersey and sixth in the final GC; two stage wins at the 2015 Tour de Suisse and second in the final GC; and a win in the closing time trial of the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco.
Barguil’s top results include two stage wins at the 2013 Vuelta a España, eighth in the final GC of the 2014 Vuelta, sixth in the GC of the 2014 Tour de Beijing, and third on stage 8 of the 2015 Tour de Suisse. This year, in his first Tour de France appearance, he finished 14th in the final GC.
"We are delighted to continue working with Tom and Warren to help them develop further as riders and achieve their maximum potential," said Team Giant-Alpecin CEO Iwan Spekenbrink (NED). “This year we have seen Tom make a great step forward in his development both as a rider and as a person, which has led to some impressive results already. The way he dealt with his crash at the Tour de France and how he acts as a leader within the team show that he is capable of playing a leadership role.
"With Warren, we decided back in 2013 to create a long-term performance plan to help him become a strong GC rider in the future. As a result, we sent him to this year’s Tour de France to learn and to discover his capabilities in a race like the Tour, which will be an important step in his development as a GC rider. For us, it was an obvious choice to continue executing the performance plan with Warren and our performance staff. We believe that we can continue to grow together and produce some strong performances.
"I feel really good in the team, and I trust that I can develop further in this environment,” said Dumoulin. “I will get all the support I need to make the next steps in my career. I am pleased with how we have worked together so far. We have made great progress every year, and this is one of the reasons to stay with the team. Another important factor is that my growth is paralleling the growth of the team, and it is great to be part of a challenging environment."
"I am happy to continue with the team and to improve further as a GC rider,” said Barguil. “When I joined the team in 2012 I signed a contract for a long period of three years, and for me it was clear that I wanted to continue. I am confident that the team can help me take the next steps, and that is why I want to stay for three more years. The atmosphere in the team is great and my teammates are very helpful, and that is important to me. When I am racing I feel good with everyone around me, and I just don’t want to leave for a different team. Now that the team is growing, it is important to have the right GC support, not only during races but also before and after."
Giant Alpecin have also signed German Max Walscheid.
He raced this year for the German continental outfit Team Kuota-Lotto before joining Team Giant-Alpecin as a stagiaire in August and has signed a two-year contract.
The hiring reflects Team Giant-Alpecin’s commitment to developing German cycling and giving young riders the opportunity to move up.
“Max is a talented sprinter who made a good impression in the races he rode with us as a stagiaire over the past few months,” said coach Marc Reef (NED). “The logical result is the replacement of his stagiaire’s contract with a pro contract. Our coaches and experts will support him with a long-term strategy as he continues to work on his sprint. We will give him space to concentrate on improving, and in the meantime he will strengthen our sprint train. He will also take on the challenge of pursuing success in the classics in the future.”
“I’m glad the team sees my capabilities as a rider but also as a person,” said Walscheid. “During my time as a stagiaire I think I was able to show the team that I have the ability to deliver results but that I can also contribute to team successes. I’m happy that the team recognized that and is giving me the chance to turn pro.
“This is the perfect team for me for the next few years, as I will be able to work on my strengths and weaknesses. I want to improve as a sprinter, and during my time as a stagiaire I made progress, which was a good sign. I would like to continue with a race program that allows me to get some experience in the bigger races and aim for strong results in smaller races. Next to that I’m also really looking forward to working for the team and having my role in the sprint preparation.”
Team Giant-Alpecin is pleased to announce that Sindre Skjøstad Lunke (NOR) has signed a two-year contract and will ride for the team through 2017. The 22-year-old Skjøstad Lunke joins from the Norwegian continental squad Team Joker.
Skjøstad Lunke has shown his talent in demanding races, and his results include 7th in the Tour de l’Avenir in 2015 and 11th in 2014. He is the second top-10 Tour de l’Avenir finisher the team has signed this year, after Sam Oomen (NED).
“Sindre is a climber who has proven two years in a row that he can perform strongly in the mountains,” said Team Giant-Alpecin coach Marc Reef (NED). “We have a plan to help him develop in a broad way, but with an initial focus on his specialty, climbing. We believe he has the mental and physical ability to do well in difficult climbing races in the future, but in the meantime he will also play a role supporting our GC riders, Warren Barguil and Tom Dumoulin.”
“Joining Team Giant-Alpecin and moving up to the highest level of the sport is a big step for me and I am really happy to get this chance," said Skjøstad Lunke. "It will be hard, of course, but very exciting as well. I hope to learn a lot from the more experienced riders, and I’m looking forward to being guided by the team’s coaches and drawing on their experience in developing riders as I take the next steps in my own progression. I’m really looking forward to competing in the harder stage races. Now I’m best in in the mountains, especially long climbs, but I hope to improve on the flats and in the TT in order to become a GC rider in the future."