Michael Mørkøv, the lead-out man who has combined so successfully with Sam Bennett at Deceuninck-QuickStep is staying with the team as Sam Bennett is due to leave.
Team boss Patrick Lefevere said the weekend before last that Sam Bennett was leaving the team and there were hopes, among Irish cycling fans, that Mørkøv would join Bennett at his next team, possibly Bora-hansgrohe.
However, those hopes were ended today when the team announced it has re-signed Mørkøv for two more years after his current contract expires at the end of this year. He will be almost 39 years old by the time the contract expires, meaning any reunion with Bennett at any point is now unlikely.
“All you can wish for from a job is to feel appreciated by your colleagues," Mørkøv said in a team statement confirming his contract with the team, which he joined in 2018, had been extended. "I really feel like I belong in this team and I am delighted to be staying. I have the Olympics this year, which is a big personal goal of mine."
Advertisement
Related News
"But away from that all my targets are team related – my goal is to be able to help my teammates takes as many wins as possible. This has really been a focus of mine for the last couple of years and I thrive on it now and I know where I want to improve."
Mørkøv, a three-time world champion on the track as well as claiming a European title and an Olympic silver medal during his career, said he had really enjoyed his time and success at the team so far and was looking forward to more.
"I have great memories sprinting with Elia (Viviani), I have great memories with Alvaro (Hodeg) and Fabio (Jakobsen) and obviously with Sam (Bennett). One of the biggest was in Paris last year.
"The emotion that I have already mentioned was real and when I swore in to a camera, shouting “that was a ******* dream!”, it wasn’t a joke – to win on the Champs-Élysées with the green jersey is still the dream and it was amazing to be part of it. But also, in 2019 to be with Julian in yellow for 14 days was very special.”
Lefevere said he was delighted to sign the Dane for two more years, adding his contribution to the team's sprint wins had been crucial. He also believed Mørkøv was the best lead-out man in the world.
Topics
