SHIMANO AND TEAM DECEUNINCK-QUICKSTEP TOGETHER FOR 2021

Belgian cycling team to use SHIMANO DURA-ACE for the upcoming season

SHIMANO will once again be partnered with Belgian-based world tour cycling's Team Deceuninck-Quickstep after a highly successful 2020 campaign.

The agreement is an extension to the long-term existing partnership between Shimano and Deceuninck–Quick-Step. Shimano will supply class-leading componentry to the team, as well as supporting the team's technical staff with in-depth knowledge and support.

Team Deceuninck-Quick-Step is home to stellar riders including 2020 Road World Champion Julian Alaphilippe, 2020 Tour de France points jersey winner Sam Bennett, and João Almeida, who held the Giro d’Italia’s pink jersey for 15-days last year. The team also took Dura-Ace to the top step of the UCI World Tour rankings in 2020.

Not only has the team maintained consistency in 2021 with its choice of Shimano as its drivetrain partner, but it has also retained the services of its exciting challengers for Grand Tours, one-day Classics, Mountain classifications and Sprint classifications. However, the team has also strengthened in-depth with the addition of 2011 World Champion Mark Cavendish, who rejoins the team he achieved multiple Grand Tour stage wins between 2013-2015.

Cavendish, Alaphilippe, Bennett, Almeida et al, will be aboard Specialized bicycles in 2021, graced with Shimano's Di2 Dura-Ace groupsets. The team will ride with both disc brake set-ups and rim brake set-ups, as well as using Shimano Dura-Ace's TT shifters during time trials.

Speaking of the new agreement, Deceuninck–Quick-Step Technical & Development director Ricardo Scheidecker said: "We are obviously extremely happy to be partnering with Shimano again. They share our passion for developing cycling technology and always striving for improvement. This agreement does not only mean that we will continue to be supplied with Shimano products but also allows for a shared knowledge base of expertise and experience that means that our riders can be confident that they are riding with the best performing equipment and setup around."

Team Deceuninck-Quickstep will be hoping to get back to winning ways on familiar turf with the start of the northern European classics season at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on 27th February.

1. Embargo: Friday 26th February, 10:00 CST

2. Product images: Images ©️ Wout Beel.