The Belkin Pro Cycling Team signed Nick van der Lijke for the next two seasons. The 21-year-old Dutchman comes from the Rabobank Development Team and according to team manager, Nico Verhoeven shows great potential.

"Nick has been at under-23 level for four years and I've seen him getting better during those years. Gradually, he's won time trials and stage races, and is also strong in bunch sprints," Verhoeven said. "At our team, he will get the chance to develop his true specialty."

Van der Lijke starts his adventure with the Belkin Pro Cycling Team with the ambition to learn. However, he has a goal in mind that he wants to work towards. "The first year will be about learning. I'm very curious to see what it's like to race at the highest level," Van der Lijke said. "I'm a pretty good climber and quite a strong finisher. So ultimately, I hope to shine in races like Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Amstel Gold Race."

Van der Lijke will see many familiar faces at the Belkin Pro Cycling. Riders like Wilco Kelderman, Moreno Hofland and Marc Goos are his former team-mates. "Besides that, Matthieu Heijboer has been my trainer for three years," added Van der Lijke. "I also find it nice to see that the riders in this team really go through fire and water for each other. That really appeals to me because I'm like that too."

He has four wins to his name this season: A race in Roosendaal, the Beverbeek Classic and, after taking the time trial stage, the Kreiz Breizh Elite overall classification.