After three years, the Belgian makes a comeback to the team where he spent the vast majority of his career.
Etixx – Quick-Step is happy to announce a new rider for the 2017 season: Dries Devenyns, the Belgium Tour and Tour de Wallonie winner, who had already competed for the squad between 2009 and 2013, a five-year spell during which he notched his first pro victory (in stage 5 of the Österreich Rundfahrt) and asserted himself as one of the most versatile riders in the peloton. This season, by taking the two GC triumphs on home turf as well as some solid results in prestigious one-day races, Dries proved he still has a word to say in the cycling world and is driven by a huge motivation.
"I'm happy to come back to a team I know very well and which I admire for the great way it's organized. I can't wait to pull on the new jersey and show how committed I am. Before that, I want to do good in my last races of 2016. I've spent two years with IAM Cycling and I would like to thank everybody for their help and our time together. Now the moment has come to return home", said 33-year-old Dries, who has amassed five wins and five more top 10 placings in the current season.
Patrick Lefevere, Etixx – Quick-Step's CEO, couldn't hide his delight in having convinced the Belgian to rejoin the outfit for 2017: "In the last couple of years, after Dries took a different road in his career, we stayed in contact. He wanted to try his own path, but the mutual respect was always there and you can see this today, as we welcome him back. We know what he can do and bring to our squad, he showcased that again in the past months, and he'll be an important rider to rely on next season."
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele