Robert Gesink will also be part of Team LottoNL-Jumbo for the next three seasons. Since 2007, the 32-year-old Dutchman has been a professional cyclist for the team, previously known as Rabobank. “His palmares proves what an excellent rider he is. During the current Tour de France he shows that once again. It’s obvious that we would like to keep such a rider for a longer period", manager Richard Plugge of the Dutch World Tour team explains the contract extension.

Plugge foresees a slightly different role for the climber in the coming years. “He is developing more and more as a team player who assists the youngsters as a road captain, but also the team leaders. He is too good to play a supporting role only. He will also get opportunities to go for his own success.”

Gesink is happy with this role. “It is nice that I can do this for another few years. I’m ready for this new role. I don’t need to change teams for such an impulse. With Team LottoNL-Jumbo, I have been on a journey as a family for years. We are a group of comrades”, Gesink says.

Therefore, he calls a longer stay with the team ‘a logical step’. “If you look at the riders, the sponsors and the available knowledge, we have everything we need to become one of the leading teams. I am happy to be able to contribute my experience and thus be able to fulfil a certain role. I have to grow into this role, but I certainly like it.”