Lotto Soudal is building its team for 2016. Adam Hansen extended his contract with the team and will stay two more years. Hansen has been riding for the team since 2011 and the last years he proved to be a Grand Tour specialist. Since the Vuelta of 2011 he completed every Grand Tour. If he reaches the finish line in Paris safely on Sunday, he’ll equal the record of completing twelve consecutive Grand Tours.

“We absolutely wanted to keep a valuable rider like Adam Hansen in the team," manager Marc Sergeant said. "Of course other WorldTour teams would love to welcome someone like him, but Adam knows what to expect of our team and vice versa.

"There aren’t many better riders in the peloton with his profile. He’s useful to any other rider in the team, and now and then he can take a chance himself. That way he won a stage in Giro and Vuelta the past years; not many riders in the peloton can say that.

"We are very pleased he’ll stay with our team for the next years. His professionalism is fantastic and he’s an inspiration to all of us, everyone in the group likes him.”

“Of course I’m happy," Hansen said. "Lotto Soudal shows lots of appreciation for what I do for the team and I feel very good here. I try to do as much as possible for the team and the other riders and I think everyone appreciates my role. And I want to keep on doing it the next years.

"The Grand Tours? Everyone knows the story. I just love doing it. Some guys prefer the classics, I feel good in the Grand Tours of three weeks. After my stage wins in the Giro and Vuelta a stage win in the Tour would be the top of the bill. But I still have a few years to achieve that.”