Belgian Van Aert to stay at Jumbo 'forever' with new deal

Former Tour de France stage winner Wout Van Aert has signed a contract extension with Jumbo-Lease a Bike until he retires, the Dutch team announced on Wednesday.

Belgian Van Aert, 30, has also won multiple one-day races and helped team-mate Jonas Vingegaard to the 2023 Tour title since joining the outfit in 2019.

Van Aert had been linked with a move to ambitious Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe as the energy sports drink is also one of his personal sponsors.

"I didn't have to think long when this idea came up," Van Aert said in a team statement.

"This team is unique and has suited me for five years and I want to keep it that way.

"That's why I decided to stay here forever, and that feels really good," he added without providing an exact date for the end of the deal.

Van Aert has also claimed three cyclo-cross world championship and won three stages on this year's Vuelta a Espana, before he was forced to drop out with injury.

"Wout is of course a fantastic rider with a great palmares," Jumbo sporting director Richard Plugge said.

"He is an all-rounder: a sprinter, a classic rider, a time trialist and on his best days he also wins a mountain stage like the famous victory on Mont Ventoux in the Tour de France.

"Wout has really become an indispensable link in our team," he added.

Van Aert will miss this month's road world championship in Zurich due to the injuries suffered at the Vuelta.