Jonathan Dibben signs with Lot Soudal

Road
Jonathan Dibben signs with Lot Soudal

Jonathan Dibben will return to the World Tour in 2020, signing a one-year deal with Belgium's Lot Soudal.

The 25-year-old former world champion on the track turned road pro with Team Sky in 2017, but his contract was not renewed for the 2019 campaign.

He returned to the track in the winter and competes on the road at the British national level with the Madison Genesis Continental team.

"I met with [team managers] John Lerang and Marc Sargent during this year's Tour and it seemed like a really good fit," Dibben said.

"Their roles on the team and the races that are scheduled seem to fit perfectly with what I want to do or what I think I can do well in a race."

Dibben joins Lotto Soudal as the lead-out member of sprinters Caleb Yuan and John Degenkolb. The 25-year-old won the points race at the 2016 Track World Championships, and his only professional victory on the road came in the individual time trial at the 2017 Tour of California. He also has podium finishes at the junior Paris-Roubaix and the U23 Tour of Flanders, and is well-suited for the classics.

"I have taken part in sprints in the past and have already worked in lead-outs. With Caleb Yuan's success this year and the addition of John Degenkolb next year, sprinting in the team will be further emphasized.

"Lead-out riders are really important in racing, and that's something I excel at. Lotto Soudal is also a Belgian team and they know the classics. This team fits my personality as a rider very well and I'm really looking forward to it," Dibben said.

"I'm more the type of rider who is sharp in faster races or at the back of a group sprint. But I want to keep progressing in the time trial arena, and I also want to do well in the individual time trial."

There are races throughout the year that include sprints, so if there are sprinters, my main role will be to work for them. Otherwise, I will try to make myself an attractive race and get into the breakaway. It's about going to the big races and getting into a few more races."

Dieben is the sixth signing in the 2019-2020 transfer window for Lotto Soudal, following Philippe Gilbert from Deceuninck-Quick Step, John Degenkolb from Trek-Segafredo, and three players from the U23 development team : Gerben Theisen, Brent Van Meer, and Corby Goossens.

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