Il Lombardia winner Esteban Chaves has signed a new contract extension with the Orica-BikeExchange team through to the end of the 2019 season, with Australian team indicating their commitment to Chaves is a sign of 'security for ORICA-Bike Exchange, with team owner Gerry Ryan throwing his support behind the team for the foreseeable future.'
Chaves signed a new contract in September 2015 after his impressive fifth place at the Vuelta a España but is likely to have secured a far better contract after his impressive 2016 season. He finished second overall at the Giro d'Italia after losing the pink jersey to Vincenzo Nibali on the final mountain stage, and third at the Vuelta a España behind Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome. Chaves became the first Colombian to win a Monument when he beat Diego Rosa and Rigoberto Uran to win Il Lombardia. He was the first non-European to win the final Classic of the season.
Chaves suffered a career threatening arm injury at the 2013 Trofeo Laigueglia and Orica signed him hoping he could make a comeback and rediscover the form that won him the 2011 Tour de l'Avenir. He has rapidly developed into a Grand Tour contender and is leading the transformation of the Orica-BikeExchange team along with Adam and Simon Yates.
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"It has been a special three years with this team and if we continue on this line, good things will come. We have a really young team, there are a lot of strong guys under 30, so if we keep growing together over the next few years we will be really strong in all of the races," Chaves said in a statement from Orica-BikeExchange as he enjoyed the off season with his family in Europe.
"I am super happy here and it is like one family. I want to stay here with the people who gave me the opportunity when no one else gave me the opportunity or believed in me."
A Grand Tour leader
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