ProTeam Lotto Soudal extends contracts of young Belgian riders Moniquet and Grignard

Sylvain Moniquet (24) and Sébastien Grignard (23) have both extended their contracts at Lotto Soudal by two years. The team is very satisfied with the development of the two Walloon riders and will further build the future of the Belgian WorldTour team together with them.

Grignard in the Tour of Flanders and Moniquet in Liège-Bastogne-Liège: both have shown their selves in an early breakaway of a cycling monument this season. “This is very typical for their style of racing: with an open vision, bravery and, shown by the final result of Moniquet in Liège, with ambition”, emphasizes Lotto Soudal CEO John Lelangue. “Grignard was present in almost every spring classic and has proven to be a real team player. Moniquet, on his turn, showed himself in some difficult WorldTour one-week stage races, but also in the Giro. His 4th spot on the Etna and his presence in multiple breakaways prove that he keeps improving. I am very happy to keep them both longer in our team.”

Moniquet: ‘I am happy with my free role’

Moniquet has been a part of the Lotto Soudal WorldTour team since 2021. The 24-year-old has proven to be of great value once the road starts rising. In his first year he finished the Vuelta, this year he showed himself with his offensive style of racing in the Giro.

“I am feeling very happy in this team and that feeling continues to grow”, says Moniquet. “I have a good relationship with everyone in the team, both staff and riders. The free role I have, and that enables me to do my own thing without pressure, suits me very well. Those reasons made the decision to stay very easy for me.”

“In the future I would like to go for stage victories in the grand tours”, continues Moniquet. “The past two years I was able to try my luck in the Vuelta and Giro and that is something I would like to do more. Also, in the shorter stage races, like Catalunya or Basque Country, I would like to try and go for a GC. Of course, I will have to do my work for the team as well, but I take pride in that work as well. Altogether, I cannot imagine any better environment than Lotto Soudal to further develop myself.”

Grignard: ‘I feel at home here’

Grignard defends the colours of Lotto Soudal since 2018. Together with Maxim Van Gils he joined the Development Team and made it to the WorldTour in 2021. “For me, this team really feels like a second family”, says Grignard. “Therefore, I am very happy to continue to work in an environment where I feel at home.”

“Already in my first season I have felt that I made big steps in my development”, continues Grignard. “This year I have got the confidence in almost every big spring classic. I am convinced that within this team I will be able to further develop myself and that the experience I have gained over the past 2 years will prove itself. I am looking forward to be a part of our young and talented classic squad for the next 2 years.”

“Extending the contracts of Grignard and Moniquet is a logical decision for us”, says John Lelangue. “They represent what we stand for as a team: giving young, Belgian talent all the opportunities to further develop their selves. Both have seized the opportunities we have given them over the past two years with both hands. We are proud of the way they have developed and full of confidence about the future, where they will have an important role to play.”

Images: Photo News.