Colombian Esteban Chaves and ORICA-GreenEDGE have extended their commitment to see the two-time 2015 Vuelta a Espana stage winner ride with the Australian outfit until the end of 2018.

The announcement comes as the 25-year-old continues his breakthrough Grand Tour to enter the final week of the Spanish race sitting in sixth position overall.

“I’ll stay for three more years with ORICA-GreenEDGE and actually I am really happy for that,” Chaves said. “I feel really good in this team. Like I’ve said before, it’s like one big family.

“The team gave me a big opportunity in a difficult moment in my life and I want to thank them for that and I want to work really hard.

“The team has confidence in me and this is important. The team is relaxed and is filled with passion. Three years is a time I can work to something bigger. I have done a lot this Vuelta, but I have said all my life I want to win the Tour de France one day.”

Having originally signed Chaves shortly after a potentially career-ending injury, sport director Neil Stephens said the new agreement was another show of commitment by the two parties.

“We are really pleased with how Esteban has developed,” Stephens said. “It’s really just confirmation of everything we thought Esteban would be.

“We gave him confidence after his injury and worked with him with patience and he has responded to that and transformed into a fantastic bike rider.”

Chaves surprised all in his first professional season claiming stage wins at the Tour of California and Tour de Suisse in 2014.

With two stage wins, six days in red and sixth overall into the second rest day at this year's Vuelta, he has concreted his position as one of the world’s best climbers and Stephens said there is plenty more to come from the ever-smiling Colombian.

“We’d hoped that Esteban would achieve what he has,” Stephens said. “I saw a guy that was really committed, that gives everything to his training and his diet and the way he conducts himself.”

“I guess it is all happening a little faster than we imagined. Every goal we set, he achieved that and a bit more. And now, even here at the Vuelta, he has done everything we asked of him and a bit more.

“I think we were all a little surprise with the level he is at, but in the next few years we, and Esteban in particular, will expect this to be his level. That’s going to be hard at times, it's an added responsibility for everyone, but Esteban is ready and the whole ORICA-GreenEDGE outfit is up for it as well.”

Esteban Chaves
Date of Birth: 17th January 1990 (25)
Nationality: Colombian
Turned pro: 2014

Palmares:
- Currently sixth overall at 2015 Vuelta a Espana (after 16 stages)
- Six days in the red jersey at 2015 Vuelta a Espana
- Two-time 2015 Vuelta a Espana stage winner (stage 2 & 6)
- 2014 Tour of California stage winner (stage 6)
- 2014 Toue de Suisse stage winner (stage 8)
- 2011 Tour de l’Avenir champion (under 23)