Argos-Shimano have extended the contract of 5 of their biggest talents. Tobias Ludvigsson, Georg Preidler, Ramon Sinkeldam, Luka Mezgec and Thomas Damuseau will all stay with the team until the end of the 2015 season.

Team Argos-Shimano continue their effort of extending the contracts of some of their main riders. A few days ago, they announced that four of the team's veterans, Johannes Fröhlinger, Tom Veelers, Koen De Kort and Albert Timmer, will stay with the team and today the team has announced that it will continue to work with 5 of their greatest talents.

Allrounder Tobias Ludvgsson, climbers Thomas Damuseau and Georg Preidler and sprinters Luka Mezgec and Ramon Sinkeldam have all extended their contracts and will stay with the team until the end of the 2015 season. Ludvigsson's and Preidler's original contracts expired at the end of the current season while the other three riders also had contracts for the 2014 season.

“We are very happy with the extension of the contracts of these talented riders as these riders represent what our organization is all about: developing young riders into world-class specialists," general manager Iwan Spekenbrink said. "It is crucial to enter into a long-term commitment in order to see them progress further and contribute to the team’s success."

Ludvigsson has mostly excelled in time trials but is also a solid climber that hopes to develop into a GC contender in the future. Preidler and Damuseau are aggressive climbers with the former being part of several breaks in the Vuelta and the latter winning the mountains jersey in the Criterium du Dauphiné. Sinkeldam and Mezgec are both talented sprinters who have taken numerous top results this season.

“Tobias has made some big steps in his development as a GC rider and showed this with strong results in races like the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe and Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen this year," coas Rudi Keman said. "Ramon has also had his best season as a pro this year; he stood out in Paris-Roubaix, but he also came in third in the GC of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque and sprinted to second place in the Ronde Van Zeeland Seaports."

“Both Georg and Luka made an impact in their first Grand Tours, with Luka sprinting to multiple third places in the Giro d’Italia and Georg being in the breaks in tough stages in La Vuelta a España – as he was at the world championships as well. Thomas has shown his good all-round abilities during the entire season and won the polka dot jersey in Critérium du Dauphiné."

Kemna explained where he expects his riders to excel in the future.

“This next season will be important in helping these riders grow further and take the next step to the top level of the sport," he said. "The guidance of our experts and coaches will be critical in this. Ramon and Luka will be focusing on developing their sprints and classic skills, and Tobias on his all-round abilities in order to progress as a GC rider. Georg and Thomas will be focused on improving their performance in hilly races."

“I am happy that we can work with these riders on a long-term basis, as it is important to have the time to develop their specialties. This year we saw the breakthrough of Warren Barguil, and next year we will hopefully see the same with these diamonds in the rough.”

In addition to the recent contract extensions, the team will continue its work with young talents by setting up a development team for the 2014 season.