The 17-year-old Belgian agreed on a deal until the end of the 2025 season.
Niels Driesen will ride in the Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team jersey from next year. The young Belgian finished top 5 in both the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix this season, was runner-up at the Belgian Championships and has turned heads with his climbing abilities. Driesen makes the transition from his current team Acrog – Balen BC Junior, the youth team where also Tom Boonen had a history, building his way to the top.
Niels, who first combined BMX and road racing, was born in 2005, the year Boonen won his first Monuments and became World Champion. Next to cycling, the Belgian is busy with studying, as he prepares to finish his last year of Electromechanics in high school, and is also looking for possibilities to continue to study on. Niels was excited to sign for the Devo Team – one of the most successful U23 programs in the peloton – which he didn’t expect to join.
“I see it as a beautiful chance. I have always dreamed of riding with this squad. It’s definitely a good step, and I feel they have confidence in my capabilities. On paper I should be a climber's type, but this year I came fourth in the De Ronde and fifth in Paris-Roubaix, so I’m still discovering on which type of courses I can grow and which type of rider I am. It will be special to ride in the Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team jersey, as the team draws a lot of eyes”, said the 17-year-old.
Team manager Bart Roosens is happy with the new signing: “Niels is one of the young talented Belgians we definitely wanted in our team. He is a calm guy with a lot of growth potential and he can play a role on any kind of course. We are delighted with his signing.”
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
