Paul Martens stays with Team LottoNL-Jumbo. The experienced German signs a two-year contract extension with the Dutch team. “I like to work with the younger men in the team.”

“I’m very glad with this contract extension,” Martens says. “I’m feeling good with this team and I’m happy that I can do the things I love for two more years. I like to work with the younger men in the team. I’m one of the older riders, yet I don’t feel that in a physical way, but I do during the conversations at dinner. I enjoy the differences between the generations. I got a lot of positive feedback about the way I treat the younger guys. That grew in a spontaneous way. I feel that I can help when some of the younger riders are making mistakes. I used to make those mistakes myself before, so I’m able to recognise them and teach my teammates how to deal with it. Everyone wants to give their best, but that doesn’t always turn out the best way.”

Win-win situation

“Paul is always very useful with his qualities”, sports director Nico Verhoeven judges. “We are very happy with his extension. He rode a good Tour de France and confirmed his strength for us another time. It’s a good thing to have somebody in your team who has as much experience as Paul does. That he likes to share that experience with the younger riders is a win-win situation. He still has a very high level himself as well. He is important in the Walloon classics and in the tough stages in the big stage races.”