One of the most talented young riders in cycling is the latest to be confirmed as riding for the new Trek team from next season, with Luxembourg rider Bob Jungels being given a two year deal by the squad.
The 2012 Espoir Paris-Roubaix winner and 2010 world junior time trial champion has had a very impressive debut pro season with the RadioShack Leopard Trek team and with that squad set to wind down, will move across to Trek for 2014 and 2015.
Jungels won a stage and finished fifth overall in the Tour de Luxembourg this year, plus won the national road race and time trial championships. He was also victorious in the Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie, winning via a long and impressive solo break. He’s still just twenty years of age and is seen as having a very bright future.
It’s little surprise that some of those on his current team that will move across to the new setup want to hold on to him; he too wants to continue working with them. “I had some offers from other teams, but I think it's very important to be surrounded by people that have the same approach,” he explained. “In particular [General Manager] Luca Guercilena has been essential in my development and I really want to keep on working with him and the other performance staff. They are the most professional people I know.”
Guercilena has been impressed by what he has seen thus far, and is frank about that. “There's no secret that Bob is a very valuable rider in our long-term plans. Besides his talent and versatility, he knows that one has to work hard in order to achieve success,” he said.
“In his first year as a professional he already showed us a bit of what he's capable of in the future and he will be a resource to the younger members of the team. We need to see how he develops and whether the focus for him will be more on the Classics, the time trials or the stage races. In any case, we're very happy to have him on board!”
Jungels’ amateur career suggests that he could excel in stage races. In his final year as an amateur with the Leopard Trek team, he won the overall classification in both the Flèche du Sud and le Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux. However with results like his win in Paris-Roubaix espoirs and second in the European Under 23 time trial, his versatility is clear.
He is eager to continue learning from some of Trek’s other signings, including Fabian Cancellara and the Schleck brothers Andy and Frank.
“Besides the guidance, there is obviously the roster of this team, where I have many friends,” he said. “I feel fortunate to be surrounded with such a good ambiance, and with Fabian, Andy, and Fränk, I find great riders that are ready to share their experience with me.”
Those have already been confirmed for the team, as has Jens Voigt.