Toms Skujins will stay at Lidl-Trek for the following two seasons after signing a contract extension with the staff. The Latvian has been with the staff since 2018, when he joined from Cannondale.
“I believe each time we re-sign it appears to occur earlier and earlier as a result of each events have discovered a mutual respect and mutual liking,” Skujins, 32, mentioned in a press release on Friday.
“The course the staff goes additionally makes me completely satisfied. We’re transferring ahead and progressing as a staff. It will be onerous to see myself in any jersey aside from Lidl-Trek’s.”
Skujins loved a advantageous begin to the present marketing campaign, animating Omloop Het Nieuwsblad as a part of a high-calibre break after which inserting second behind Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche regardless of a crash and two punctures. He later collected prime 10 finishes at E3 Harelbeke and the Tour of Flanders.
“I believe that yearly I personally step up, but in addition the staff does. I really feel accountable to step up with it,” Skujins mentioned. “It’s good to pay again the boldness the staff put in me a few years in the past now, to signal me within the first place, as a result of really once I signed my first contract I used to be between a rock and a tough place.
“I didn’t actually have another place to go, so it was very nice that the staff gave me that chance. I believe that yearly I’ve paid that again that an increasing number of, and I’ll maintain doing that for an additional two years.”
Lidl-Trek supervisor Luca Guercilena welcomed the renewed settlement with “a uncommon sort of rider.” Skujins’ versatility has prolonged to racing on gravel, whereas he toggles between the position of attacker and assist rider throughout a variety of terrains.
“Should you have been wanting solely at a outcomes sheet, you would possibly underestimate him, however whenever you see how a lot he provides to the staff throughout all terrains, you shortly understand simply how priceless he’s,” Guercilena mentioned.
“The truth that he continues to enhance, whilst the extent of biking rises, speaks volumes not just for his expertise, however significantly his work ethic. Toms embodies the spirit of Lidl-Trek.”
“He’s able to taking outcomes himself, but extra typically goes all in for his teammates. Lidl-Trek is all the higher with him on board.”
