Team Giant-Alpecin is pleased to announce that Sam Oomen has signed a contract to race with the team for three years, until the end of 2018. With this contract, the second-year espoir turns pro at age 20.

Oomen, currently riding for Rabobank Development Team, is recognized as one of the biggest talents of his generation. This year he won the opening stage and final GC of the Rhône-Alpes Isère Tour; won two stages at the Tour des Pays de Savoie and placed second in the final GC; and finished second at the Tour Alsace, fourth at the Tour de l’Avenir, and eighth at the Tour de l’Ain. 

“We are very proud that Sam has chosen to ride for us,” explained Team Giant-Alpecin coach Marc Reef. “With his talent and palmares in the U23 category he is a very interesting rider, and we are happy that he has recognized the value of our team and our top sports vision. The Keep Challenging approach is very demanding, not least for the riders, but we are pleased that Sam wants to start this process together with us. We are confident that our approach will enable him to develop optimally as a rider.”

“Team Giant-Alpecin showed their interest from the beginning of the year and have been concerned with who I am as a person. They’ve made a good plan for my development for the next three years, and I got the feeling that they really want to work with me.

“I am very satisfied with my season, with good results at the Tour de l’Ain and the Tour de l’Avenir, and I hope to continue like this. I received a good education at Rabobank Development Team, as they gave me the space and opportunity to grow, and I made a huge step in my development there.

“I hope to become a complete rider with strong abilities in the hills as well as stage races. For next year I want to invest a lot, learn from the team, and contribute to the team’s process and my role on the team. I hope to become much stronger and be able to maintain myself at the highest WorldTour level.”