Etixx - Quick-Step Reaches Two-Year Agreement with Maximiliano Richeze

Etixx - Quick-Step Reaches Two-Year Agreement with Maximiliano Richeze

Etixx - Quick-Step has reached an agreement with 32-year-old rider Maximiliano Richeze on a two-year contract (2016 & 2017). Richeze's most recent career highlight includes finishing 2nd in both Stages 5 and 6 of the 2013 La Vuelta.

"We decided to take Richeze in our team because of his experience as a leadout man," CEO Patrick Lefevere said. "We know his skills as a leadout man have improved in the last years, to where we consider him one of the best leadout riders in the peloton. With the arrival of Marcel Kittel, Richeze will step into the role of setting him up for the sprints. I am looking forward to seeing what these two can achieve working together. Richeze is also the perfect solution for a guy like Fernando Gaviria, who is young. Richeze will put his experience at his service, and help Gaviria to stay in the peloton, and to lead out when necessary."

"I'm happy to join the team and to have this opportunity," Richeze said. "I'm honored to be at the service of a guy like Marcel Kittel, who everyone knows is among the top sprinters in the world. I will do my best to put him in the best position as his leadout man. I am also excited to help Fernando Gaviria, as he is a young and talented rider. From what we've seen until now, as a stagiaire, he is a guy who knows already how to handle the duties as a sprinter. I hope my function will be to give both Kittel and Gaviria the support they need. But of course besides this, I hope to also have my chance in races where the team goes without a pure sprinter. I would like to try and go for some individual victories if there is an opportunity at some races."