Extensions abound, Hinault in group eyeing Mavic takeover: Daily News Digest

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Hello again, CyclingTips readers.

Monday was a popular day for veteran pros to sign two-year contract extensions, with a pair of notable riders both renewing with their respective teams to kick off the week.

Dutch all-rounder Bauke Mollema was one of them. The 33-year-old will stick with Trek-Segafredo through 2022 after signing a contract that will extend his stint with the squad through its eighth year. Until racing resumes, Mollema remains the sport’s most recent Monument winner, having won Il Lombardia last year.

Meanwhile, Israel Start-Up Nation has secured the services of German speedster André Greipel for two more seasons as well. The 37-year-old may not have had the opportunity yet this season to show what he still has in the proverbial tank, but he is confident that there are still results in his future and his team evidently sees the 11-time Tour de France stage winner as a valuable asset as well.

Read on for more …

Dane Cash
News Editor

What’s news

| Mollema extends with Trek-Segafredo through 2022

Bauke Mollema will ride on with Trek-Segafredo through the 2022 season, the team announced on Monday. The 33-year-old Dutchman joined Trek in 2015 after spending his entire pro career with the Rabobank organization. Since joining Trek, his biggest achievements have included a Tour stage win, a Clásica San Sebastián title, and a Monument victory at last year’s Il Lombardia.

“We have enjoyed great moments together over the past years, but I still have great ambitions, and so does the team,” Mollema said. “The team’s current performance structure gives me the confidence that I can continue to develop and challenge myself as a rider. I’m happy to renew with Trek-Segafredo for another two years, and I’m certain that once we’re racing again, we’ll continue to be successful.”

Trek-Segafredo’s announcement of the contract extension also included details on Mollema’s plans for this season, confirming that he will be a co-leader for Trek at the Tour (along with Richie Porte) while also targeting the Ardennes Classics and stage wins at the Vuelta a España.

| Greipel will stick with Israel Start-Up Nation for two more seasons

Speaking of two-year contract extensions, André Greipel has signed on to stick with Israel Start-Up Nation through 2022. The German speedster, who counts 22 Grand Tour stage wins on his career palmares, joined the squad for this season after coming to an agreement to mutually terminate his contract with Arkéa-Samsic following one season there, having spent the prior eight years with the Lotto-Soudal organization.

“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.”

| Ganna eyes Roubaix

A man of many talents, individual pursuit world record holder Filippo Ganna says he is squarely focused on his road ambitions at the moment, with the Classics chief among them. The Ineos rider told Cycling Weekly that he hopes to one day win the elite edition of Paris-Roubaix, having shown his promise in the under-23 race back in 2016.

“I like the Classics but it’s really hard,” he said. “You need a lot of experience, you need a lot of legs and a lot of luck because with the cobblestones you can puncture or break the bike.”

| Hinault joins group working towards Mavic takeover

L’Equipe reports that five-time Tour winner Bernard Hinault has joined a group that is looking to take over Mavic, which was put into receivership in May.

The group also includes Ronan Le Moal, former CEO of Crédit Mutuel-Arkéa who was closely involved with Arkéa-Samsic for years, and lawyer Didier Poulmaire. According to L’Equipe, Hinault is operating in a consultant role in the plans to move a potential takeover forward, with an expectation of being closely involved in overseeing aspects of sales and development should the effort succeed.

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Today’s featured image of Bernard Hinault and Greg Lemond at the Tour de France comes from Cor Vos.