Cyclocross world champion Wout van Aert will race for Team Jumbo-Visma from March 1, the team announced today. The 24 year-old Belgian rider has signed a three-year contract.
“I think I achieved great results last year and that’s why I had the opportunity to talk with different teams”, Van Aert said.
“At one point, Team Jumbo-Visma knocked on my door, a team that really appealed to me. Due to circumstances I will be able to move up the ranks in 2019 already. It feels good that I can step up to the WorldTour, because I think I can develop myself a lot at that level.”
Van Aert currently took some impressive results on the road in 2018 including winning the Danmark Rundt overall, third at Strade Bianche, ninth at the Tour of Flanders and tenth at Gent-Wevelgem.
Team Jumbo-Visma manager Richard Plugge is keen to develop Van Aert into a top classics rider.
“We were interested in Wout for 2020”, he said. “Things have all gone faster than planned and we can welcome him to our team earlier. That’s very good news for the team, because we’re getting stronger. He’s a very big talent and we hope to be able to develop him into the classic rider we all see in him.”
