Trek announced today that ten-time Luxembourg National Champion Bob Jungels (LUX) has secured a two-year contract with Trek’s 2014 WorldTour team. The current RADIOSHACK LEOPARD TREK classics rider’s presence on the new team provides a unique mix of youthful exuberance with the experience of having already competed, and won, at the highest level.
“I had some offers from other teams, but I think it’s very important to be surrounded by people that have the same approach,” Jungels said. “In particular [General Manager] Luca Guercilena has been essential in my development and I really want to keep on working with him and the other performance staff. They are the most professional people I know.”
During his first year as a pro, Jungels finished 5th overall in the 2013 Tour de Luxembourg, taking 1st in stage four. He then continued his dominance on home soil by taking both the road race and time trial national championship titles. Add that to his six national titles as a junior and U23 rider, and it’s clear the young Luxembourger is destined to spend time on the podium. Jungels has also proven to be a consistent and dependable rider in only a year of professional competition riding in support of teammate Fabian Cancellara’s win at Paris Roubaix.
“There’s no secret that Bob is a very valuable rider in our long-term plans. Besides his talent and versatility, he knows that one has to work hard in order to achieve success,” said Guercilena. “In his first year as a professional he already showed us a bit of what he’s capable of in the future and he will be a resource to the younger members of the team. We need to see how he develops and whether the focus for him will be more on the classics, the time trials or the stage races. In any case, we’re very happy to have him on board!”
Although the young rider has accomplished a lot in his first year of professional competition, Jungels displays the maturity required of a rider that wants to make a name for himself in the professional ranks. “Besides the guidance, there is obviously the roster of this team, where I have many friends,” Jungels commented. “I feel fortunate to be surrounded with such a good ambiance, and with Fabian, Andy, and Fränk, I find great riders that are ready to share their experience with me.”