Simmons, Theuns, Kirsch, Liepiņš and Kamp renew commitments to Trek-Segafredo
QUINN SIMMONS – 2023
Currently in his second professional season, Quinn Simmons has learned a lot from his tenure as a neo-professional. Last week, the 20-year-old took his first professional wins at the Tour de Wallonie, winning the queen stage and general classification in dominant style. The reigning junior world champion has signed a contract renewal which will see him racing for Trek-Segafredo through 2023 as he takes the next steps in his development.
General Manager Luca Guercilena: “Quinn is an exciting rider. His attacking style of racing aligns with our approach, and I think he will be a rider to watch closely in the next years. Of course, Quinn is still a very young guy, but now we see many riders this age enjoying success. He has great potential, and we are relishing the opportunity to help Quinn continue to find his footing in the pro ranks and develop into a well-rounded athlete.”
Simmons: “I’m really looking forward to another two years of development with the Team. I’m super thankful that, both coming out of the juniors and now again for two more years, they’ve put faith in me as a young rider. A big thank you also to Luca for believing in me. I think the Tour of Wallonie showed a bit of confirmation of what they see, and I hope to continue to grow and to learn what kind of rider I’d like to be in the future.
“I’m really happy in the Team and with what I’ve accomplished so far, and I’m looking forward to making another big step with my first Grand Tour in the coming weeks. After that, I’ll be looking towards next year to hopefully make some nice results in the classics and be there alongside Mads and Jasper as our classics team continues to grow and prove that we are one of the best teams going into 2022.”
ALEX KIRSCH – 2023
Alex Kirsch has been an indispensable member of our lead-out train since joining the Team in 2019, mixing a great tactical mind with an ability to move around the peloton. He will remain with the Trek-Segafredo family through 2023.
Guercilena: “Alex has shown great qualities since joining the Team. He is an intelligent rider who can read the race well and act accordingly, skills which are particularly useful for mentoring our younger riders. Above all else, Alex has demonstrated that he is a dependable and loyal teammate and has cemented a position in our classics squad.”
Kirsch: “I’m very happy to stay for two more years with the Trek family. It’s a team that has grown very close to my heart in the last three years; I’m still very grateful that Luca and Trek gave me the chance for one of the last spots [in the Team] three years ago, and now I think I’m one of the core riders of the Team and have become one of the best domestiques in the peloton.
“It’s been a crazy few years for me, and I’m very proud of that. I was very happy that Luca approached me quite early to say that he counts on me for the future, so I could focus on doing my job, mainly supporting the leaders in the major races, but also taking care of the young riders such as in Wallonie with Quinn and Juan Pedro, and guiding them and supporting them when they need it.”
EDWARD THEUNS – 2023
Edward Theuns has been an important figure in our Team for five seasons, gathering individual wins in sprints and one-day races and delivering teammates to notable successes. This season Eddie won the final stage of the Tour de Hongrie in a bunch sprint and came within centimeters of winning the Belgian national championship.
Guercilena: “We are very happy to have Eddie remain with us for a further two years. On his day, he can win from a bunch sprint, as he showed this year already, but his position as part of our lead-out is particularly valuable. He is a versatile rider, very capable in the classics as well as in bunch sprints, and I am looking forward to seeing him achieve more success with the Team.”
Theuns: “The Team re-welcomed me with open arms after I had one year outside and, I know we speak about it a lot, but it does feel like a family. You know all the people, the riders and the staff. I’m happy in the Team, and we have a great atmosphere, especially in the classics group where we have a lot of fun, which helps to improve the results also.
“The Team has been building the classics squad for a while, and if you look at the results we had in recent years, winning Milan – Sanremo, Kuurne this year and Omloop and Gent-Wevelgem last year, I think we are becoming one of the best classics teams. We gain more experience, and we are building on that, and it’s nice to be a part of that group. It feels like the Team for me; I don’t have any doubts about staying here.”
EMILS LIEPINS – 2023
Emīls Liepiņš will continue to be an invaluable support rider at the leaders’ disposal, especially as a lead-out man in the sprints. Next year, Emīls will aim for the next step and carve out his own space in the Team.
Liepiņš: “This and last season were two years where I was able to appreciate a challenging team spirit, which made it easier for me to approach the WorldTour. I remember with great pleasure Stuyven’s win last year at Omloop het Nieuwsblad. My first classic and immediately a success. There I felt that this Team is different.
“In two years, I have worked hard for our leaders and adapted to what the elite of cycling requires. I’m convinced I have room for growth, and the goal is to repay the Team’s trust with maximum dedication to the work that will be required of me, but also to bring results. I am very confident that I can show my potential in the fast finishes.”
Guercilena: “Emīls has been one of the most pleasant notes in recent years. He has a remarkable spirit of application and commitment that is not widely seen. The renewal must be the opportunity to aim even higher. This will be his and our goal.”
ALEXANDER KAMP – 2022
Kamp’s confirmation for 2022 stems from the Team’s confidence that he can reach the immense potential he displayed when he signed two years ago. He is a strong rider who likes challenging finishes, but he is yet to taste victory with Trek-Segafredo.
Guercilena: “Alexander is a rider who has the qualities to be a pro on a WorldTour team. We think it’s worth persevering and giving him the opportunity to prove it. He knows we believe in him; it’s up to him to make that leap to confirm our thinking.”
Kamp: “2020 was a very complicated year for me. It wasn’t a good season, not the one I wanted and expected. But, even in this negative context, it served to face 2021 with a different approach. I feel like I’ve regained my performance level, and a few results comforted me, like at Volta Catalunya [9th and 5th as stage placements] and Tour de Suisse [6th Stage 3]. I’ve been working to prove I deserve to be a part of this Team and deserve confidence.
“What I still need is to find the winning feeling again. I became professional and came to this Team because of the wins. My goal for the rest of this season and next year, as well as my biggest hope, is to win. So far in 2021, I really enjoyed every race day with the Team. And when you feel good at the party, you don’t want to stop the music, and you want more. This is my feeling now, and I’m super motivated for what’s coming.”
