Thomas De Gendt eyeing the Tour de France 2013
Thomas De Gendt is on the verge of signing a two-year deal with Team Vacansoleil-DCM for two more years.
The cyclist is having a smooth season and his third place finish at the first Grand Tour race of the season, the Giro d’Italia was good enough to impress the team management.
De Gendt rode brilliantly throughout the Italian Grand Tour and also succeeded during the 20th stage of the race.
He fell 1 minute and 39 seconds short of the race leader, Ryder Hesjedal and had to settle for the third overall spot after the final general classifications with Joaquim Rodriguez of Team Katusha at the second spot.
The Belgian also managed to bag a stage of the Paris-Nice after his spectacular performance during the stage 7 of the race.
His current contract with the team runs through 2013 and while commenting on extending the contract he noted that all the important paper work has been completed.
“The contract is not yet signed, but apart from a few periods and commas, agreement has been reached”.
“I will stay with Vacansoleil until 2015,” he briefed while his recent appearance at a television show, Vive le Velo.
The 25-year-old started his professional crusade in 2006 with Team Unibet-Davo and spent a period of one year with the side.
He joined Team Davo for 2007-08 seasons and accepted a two-year offer from Team Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator for 2009-2010 seasons.
Thomas signed a deal with Team Vacansoleil-DCM in 2011 and has decided to stay with the team by the end of 2015 season.
The Belgian is not riding the Tour de France because of his marriage which was held right on the day the Tour de France started, June 30th, 2012.
“Normally I will put everything on the Tour,” he said. “I think it's wise to plan my winter programme completely around the Tour”.
“With Wout Poels we have someone who is good in the race. Why not go with a duo? After two weeks we can see who is the best and who you turn to”.
Gendt made his plans clear before start of the French Grand Tour and the cyclist might now be seen in action at the third and the final Grand Tour race of the season, the Vuelta a Espana 2012.
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