Revelation of this spring Toms Skujins stay with Lidl-Trek for two more years: "It would be hard to see myself in any other jersey"

While it still needs to connect results-wise, Toms Skujins's performances have seen a massive leap forwards in the last two years. From a breakaway warrior who occasionally scored a result here and there, the 33-year-old became one of the world's top riders in the classics.

His best result of this spring was undeniably the runner-up at Strade Bianche, second only to phenomenal Tadej Pogacar. Skujins had been a consistent top 10 presence this spring, but perhaps the most promising has been his Omloop Het Nieuwsblad where the Latvian was able to shake off Wout Van Aert with his attack on one of the hellings.

"I think every time we re-sign it seems to happen earlier and earlier because both parties have found a mutual respect and mutual liking. The direction the Team is going also makes me happy. We’re moving forward and progressing as a team. It would be hard to see myself in any jersey other than Lidl-Trek’s," Skujins said about his renewal on team website.

In his seventh year with Lidl-Trek (previously known as Trek-Segafredo) and two more on his new contract, Skujins belongs among the most loyal riders in the professional peloton. The Latvian himself is becoming aware that there's going to be more than just responsibility for results on his shoulders in next years. "I’m definitely not the longest serving member of the Team, but I’m getting up there for sure."

"I think that every year I personally step up, but also the Team does. I feel responsible to step up with it. It’s nice to pay back the confidence the Team put in me many years ago now, to sign me in the first place, because actually when I signed my first contract I was between a rock and a hard place. I didn’t really have any other place to go, so it was really nice that the Team gave me that opportunity. I think that every year I’ve paid that back that more and more, and I’ll keep doing that for another two years."