"I was surprised - the team hinted that an improved contract was in the works" - Dries De Bondt rescued by Jayco AlUla

Dries De Bondt has built a solid reputation as a rider for cobbled Classics, but also a reliable team mate and road captain. All the more surprising it was for the 2022 Giro d'Italia stage winner that his current team Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale was not interested to continue their cooperation beyond 2025. Suddenly, the 34-year-old was in a dire situation which could've been witnessed at the Giro d'Italia. The Belgian was seen taking a pull for GC riders of other teams (Decathlon AG2R wasn't competing for GC themselves), which he afterwards admitted to have been an effort to grab attention of potential future employer. UCI investigated De Bondt afterwards, but no action has been taken.

"Yes, I was surprised too," the Belgian rider admits to Het Nieuwsblad. "It's true that I haven't achieved any major victories in the last two years, but I often sacrificed myself for the team and consistently pulled out all the stops. So I wasn't worried."

"The team management was satisfied, and internally, the team hinted that an improved contract was in the works. When that new contract didn't materialize, I naturally started looking for a new employer. Jayco AIUla's offer is a godsend. I'll stay on board in the World Tour, which is comparable to the Champions League in football. Then you're competing at the highest level, and I'm happy about that."

"It's a team that fits me like a glove. I was hired as a road captain, primarily to guide my teammates in the Flemish classics. I've been competing in the professional peloton for ten years now, and I'm a rider who - thanks in part to my experience - can read a race well. Moreover, I can also count on a free role in certain races, and that with one of the best teams in the peloton. I really like the style of my future team."