Israel Start-Up Nation extends Greipel for two more years
Roughly halfway through his initial one-year contract with Israel Start-Up Nation, André Greipel has signed an extension that will keep him with the squad through 2022, the team has announced.
“It was an easy and natural decision to continue with ISN,” Greipel said via a press release. “I was flattered that they offered me two years’ extension.”
The German sprinter, who turns 38 next month, joined Israel Start-Up Nation at the start of this season after one year with Arkéa-Samsic, having spent the prior eight seasons with the Lotto-Soudal organization. Greipel’s lengthy career palmares includes 22 Grand Tour stage wins, 11 of those at the Tour de France. Between 2011 and 2016 he won at least one stage at the French Grand Tour every season.
Now in the later years of his career, Greipel was uncertain whether he would continue racing beyond 2020 at the start of this year, according to the team’s press release. However, he remains confident that there are results in his future and has decided to ride on with the team that signed him last transfer season after he an Arkéa came to a decision to mutually part ways.
“I did not get the opportunity to race the full season, so when the team offered me the chance to stay, I consulted my family, and that was it,” Greipel said of sticking with Israel Start-Up Nation. “I still love racing.”
Much as it did when initially announcing his arrival several months ago, his team again emphasized Greipel’s value as a veteran presence in the squad in its announcement of his contract extension.
“André proved straight away that he is a rider with great character and exceptional leadership skills,” said team manager Kjell Carlstrom.
“We highly value his experience and what he brings to the team both in terms of his performance as well as guiding others. We look forward to having him on board for the rest of his career and ensuring that we can achieve a lot of success.”
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