Trek Factory Racing is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement with two of the brightest prospects in cycling. Belgian Edward Theuns and Italian Niccolo Bonifazio will join the pinstriped team on a two-year deal.

Edward Theuns joins TFR from Topsport-Vlaanderen and is currently leading the UCI Europe Tour. The 24-year-old Belgian had a breakthrough 2015 season with three victories and a long series of podium placings since the start of the season.

“This is huge for me. It’s all gone so fast this season. I was hoping to do a solid season and catch the eye of the big teams, but very early on Trek Factory Racing reached out. I’m super happy to join a team with such a strong focus on the 'races of the north' and possibly the best classics rider of his generation, Fabian Cancellara," Theuns says.

"Edward has shown this year his potential as a specialist for the Belgian races and a strong winner’s mentality. We believe he can be an excellent support rider for Fabian (Cancellara) and that he can be a leader for some other select races where his speed will be instrumental," General Manager Luca Guercilena says.

“My ambitions are to continue my development as a rider, all while supporting the team’s goals,” says Theuns. “I want to help Fabian have an amazing spring campaign and, when given the chance, I’d like to obtain a good result myself.”

Niccolò Bonifazio, 21, arrives from Lampre-Merida. Like Theuns, he’s had a breakthrough season with a fifth place in Milano-Sanremo and a victory in the GP Lugano. He also won a stage in the Tour of Japan and sprinted with the best in the Tour de Pologne and the Arctic Race of Norway. 

“I’m super happy to join Trek Factory Racing. It’s a team with a very good image and a focus on developing young riders. I’d like to thank the management for the trust and I hope to reward it with some good results as soon as possible," he says.

“I have known Niccolò since a couple of years now. I used to provide training schedules for him in my lab in Milan when he was a junior, so I’m very familiar with his capacities. He has given proof of his talent, in particular in Lugano and San Remo, and I believe he can turn into an important rider for the classics," Guercilena saiys.

“Winning a Classic is my dream," says Bonifazio, "and I realise it takes a lot of factors to get there. Experience would be the number one thing, and I’m very motivated to start gaining experience with Trek Factory Racing.”