Second Belgian to ever join Blue ranks

Belgian classics specialist, 33, set to bolster Blues' roster for Northern classics, support for leaders on flat stages.

The Movistar Team announces it has reached an agreeement with Jürgen Roelandts (Asse, BEL; 1985) that will see him joining the Eusebio Unzué-led squad for the 2019 season. A strong rouleur (1.84m, 78kg) of undeniable class and quality for the cobbled classics, Roelandts is joining the Telefónica-backed team to support the Blues’ leaders on flat, windy races and become a key member on the pavé.

The Flemish rider, a very fast finisher, has an excellent record when it comes to supporting big names in the sport, as well as good individual results. His palmarès includes a podium finish in the Ronde van Vlaanderen (3rd, 2013) and a 2nd place in the E3 Harelbeke (2011), together with a 3rd spot in Milano-Sanremo (2016) and a Belgian road race title, notched up in 2008.

Roelandts joins the Movistar Team from the BMC Racing Team, with which he’s achieved two victories in 2018: the final stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana -ahead of top sprinter Danny Van Poppel- and the Gullegem Koerse, where he bested the prestigious of Greg van Avermaet, Oliver Naesen or Sep Vanmarcke. Jürgen will be only the second Belgian rider to compete for the Abarca Sports organisation in its 40 years of history -a milestone to be reached in 2019-, the only to date being Francis Vermaelen (in 1983).