New Zealander Logan Currie has signed a one-year contract at Lotto Dstny, discovering a continued pathway within the ProTeam ranks regardless of the announcement by residence crew Bolton Equities Black Spoke that it will wind down on the finish of 2023.
Currie made the transfer as much as ProTeam stage firstly of this season, in line with the New Zealand squad which he had raced with since 2021. Nevertheless, the crew final week introduced that it will not solely be unable to proceed on the ProTeam stage past its preliminary 12 months within the class, however could not go on as a Continental crew both on account of an absence of sponsors.
That has left numerous the 22-year-old’s teammates with out contracts for 2024, however Currie is now among the many handful which have confirmed they’ve discovered a brand new residence. The Belgian squad is searching for the rider from New Zealand to assist strengthen the crew throughout hilly terrain and in smaller stage races.
“I’m nonetheless very younger, however I think about myself as a GC rider and time trial specialist. I’m not a cobble or traditional specialist,” stated Logan, who lived in Belgium the previous three years.
“I really like racing right here [Belgium], however I’m extra a rider for the GC and a time trial specialist. I need to assist the crew in arduous climbing races or chase the escapees in flat phases for our sprinters. I need to assist the crew as a lot as attainable and once I get the possibility to go for [my] personal consequence, I’ll seize this chance with each palms.”
Currie has confirmed abilities within the race in opposition to the clock, having gained a junior nationwide title in 2019 after which taking back-to-back U23 time trial gold medals at New Zealand nationals in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, he earned the Oceania Continental Championships U23 time trial gold medal and was fourth at Worlds.
Not solely does Currie have GC ambitions, however the crew sees him as a promising rider to arrange sprinters like Arnaud De Lie in one-day races and search alternatives throughout one-week occasions. Final season he gained the very best younger rider classification at Worldwide Tour of Hellas and rolled robust into the second half of the 12 months with high 15 total at 2.Professional Tour of Denmark, taking the very best younger rider title there as nicely.
“Logan continues to be a really younger, however a promising rider. We don’t have plenty of riders along with his profile and he’ll strengthen our crew within the smaller stage races and in races with a hilly parcours,” stated Sports activities Supervisor Kurt Van de Wouwer.
With the signing of Currie, the Lotto Dstny squad introduced its roster to 29 riders.
