Mark Cavendish is not the only Etixx-Quick Step rider with his contract up at the end of the season and looking to renew his deal with the Belgian squad. Matteo Trentin is also looking for a new deal after winning stages at the Tour de France twice and Tour de Suisse in the last two seasons.

“It’s a contract year for me, but I want to stay with the team,” the Italian told Cycling Weekly. “I like it. It’s one of the best classics teams and I like the classics, I want to improve, so this is the place for me.”

He is only 25 and does a great job supporting his teammates in the Classics, but he one day harbors hopes of leading the team in the Cobbled Classics, which he may be doing in four or five years time along with Guillaume van Keirsbulck and Yves Lampaert.

He is in a great place to learn, as he can learn from Classics riders like Tom Boonen and Niki Terpstra while working on his already fast finish with Mark Cavendish and insists he wants to stay at the team as he is learning so much.

“It’s my fourth year. You always keep learning, where you are strong and where you can improve. You can always sprint faster, ride further up on the climbs, and in the wind. There’s always something to learn,” said the 25-year-old.

“Mark’s told me to keep as calm as possible in the sprints. When your head’s free, you’re not stressed and you can make the right moves as the group nears the line. Then the results follow.”