Cyclist Tom Skujiņš extends contract with Lidl-Trek for two more years

Latvian road cyclist Tom Skujiņš will continue racing for UCI WorldTour team Lidl-Trek after extending his contract for another two years, the team announced.

The 35-year-old, who is from Carnikava, has ridden for the team since 2018. Skujiņš said the team had remained loyal to him even after illness forced him to miss the spring classics for the first time in his career. He noted that he has grown as an athlete over the years while the team has become one of the world's leading squads. Among his goals for the next two years, Skujiņš named competing at the Los Angeles Olympics and continuing to contribute to the team's success.

Team manager Andi Schleck also praised the partnership, highlighting Skujiņš's ability to deliver individual results while giving full effort in service of teammates across different types of races. According to Schleck, Skujiņš's competitive spirit and tactical race reading have played a major role in the team's achievements.

Career path

Before joining the team, then known as Trek-Segafredo, Skujiņš spent two years with fellow WorldTour outfit Cannondale-Drapac. Earlier still, he raced two seasons with the American continental team Hincapie, and before that represented teams in France and Latvia.

Skujiņš has represented Latvia at the last three Olympic Games, finishing fifth in Paris two years ago. That same year he placed fourth at the world championships, and last year he finished fifth at both the European and world championships. He is a five-time Latvian champion in the group road race and a three-time champion in the individual time trial. Skujiņš has been named Latvia's athlete of the year for the past two years — sharing the honor with basketball player Kristaps Porziņģis one year, and winning it outright the following year.