Wanty-Groupe Gobert have secured the services of their captain for another season as Bjorn Leukemans has extended his contract with the team. Jerome Baugnies and Kevin Van Melsen have both inked two-year deals with the Belgian squad.

Björn Leukemans (1 July 1977) extends his contract with Wanty – Groupe Gobert with one year. Also Jérome Baugnies and Kévin Van Melsen stay with the team of general manager Jean-François Bourlart.

“We are very happy to have reached a deal with Björn for next season. We are ambitious again for the Classics next year. We will construct a solid team around him for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.”

“At my age you look at these things year per year," Leukemans says on his one-year contract. "The team know that I live for my job and gives me the liberty to do so. That is important to me and something that I need to have."

Wanty-Groupe Gobert is currently third in the UCI Europe Tour classification. Thanks also to the results of Leukemans in the Spring classics and races like the Druivenkoers and the Tour du Limousin where the 37-year old won a stage and finished second in the overall. 

“Wanty-Groupe Gobert is a team that does really well with the means that it has. It's a Belgian team and to me that's an important thing as well."

Leukemans showed his qualities this Spring Classics season with a 5th place in the Flèche Brabançonne, 9th in the Tour of Flandres, 11th in the Amstel Gold Race and 15th in Paris-Roubaix.

“I am the leader of the team in that period and that can be stressful at times. But thanks to my experience I know how to handle it well. I am looking forward to show myself and the team next season again."

“Björn is a leader and an example for the young riders in the team," sports director Hilaire Van der Schueren said. "He can teach them a lot. His experience in valuable to our team and to his young teammates. " 

Jérome Baugnies (1 April 1987), this year winner of stages in Norway and Gabon and the best ranked Wanty-Groupe Gobert rider in the Europe Tour (14th), has signed a new contract for two years.
 
Kévin Van Melsen (1 April 1987) recently won the mountain classifications in both the Tour du Wallonie and the Tour du Poitou-Charentes. He also stays with Wanty-Groupe Gobert for the next two seasons.