Philippe Gilbert, Paris-Roubaix winner this year, will return to Lotto Soudal next season at the age of 38 on a three-year contract.
Gilbert, who is in his third season at Deceuninck-Quick-Step, made his mark in his first spell at Lotto from 2009-2011.
The Belgian, who won the Paris-Roubaix race in the spring, said that the length of the contract had helped persuade him.
“I still wanted to race, without any doubt,” he said. “When I learned that I could prolong at my current team for only one year, it was clear to me that I wanted to change.”
“I know the team,” he said. “And I will again be part of a Belgian project.”
Gilbert reached the world had his best year with Lotto in 2011, a season when he won Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne, Giro di Lombardia, the first stage of the Tour de France and Clasica San Sebastian.
“He can pass on his experience to the current team, which is hungry for new success,” said team manager Marc Sargent, who also oversaw Gilbert’s first stint at the team. “His age is a relative term, you are as old or fit as you feel.”
