Trek-Segafredo further consolidated the team's future roster by re-signing Haimar Zubeldia and Laurent Didier. Zubeldia, 39, extended for one year, while Didier, 32, signed a two-year deal that will take him through 2018 with the US-registered WorldTour team.
Trek-Segafredo has been active in the transfer market after losing Fabian Cancellara, Frank Schleck and Ryder Hesjedal to retirement after this season, with Alberto Contador being the most notable addition to the 2017 roster. Aside from Contador, Trek-Segafredo has also added John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin), Jarlinson Pantano (IAM Cycling), Matthias Brändle (IAM Cycling), Andre Cardoso (Cannondale-Drapac), Koen de Kort (Giant-Alpecin), Jesus Hernandez (Tinkoff), Mads Pedersen (Stölting Service Group), Ruben Guerreiro (Axeon Hagens Berman) and Greg Daniel (Axeon Hagens Berman).
Zubeldia, who has ridden 28 Grand Tours in his 20-year professional career, will provide an experienced asset for Contador and Bauke Mollema in the mountains next year. Next season will be Zubeldia's ninth with the program that started as RadioShack.
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"This is my second family, and I could not see myself riding with any other team," he said in a team announcement. "I am proud that I will do 20 years, I guess you can say that gave me a little more motivation to continue. Also, the team has taken another dimension with Contador and Degenkolb joining us next year. I raced with Alberto some years ago, so we already know each other, and it's important to me that he is also a Spanish guy. I will have a bigger role next year supporting both Mollema and Contador, and that is also very motivating for me."
Zubeldia has just one general classification win in his career, coming in 2010 at the Tour d'Lain. Nevertheless, Trek-Segafredo General Manager Luca Guercilena referred to him as a "legend," praising his loyalty and hard work.
"Even though he doesn’t win a lot, he has an incredible palmarès with numerous top-10 finishes in Grand Tours and shorter stage races," Guercilena said.
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