Thomas De Gendt enters the gravel world: "Really excited about the challenge"

De Gendt made a name for himself in the peloton with his attacking and adventurous riding. The highlight was his heroic victory on the Stelvio and third place in the GC at the 2012 Giro d'Italia. Now, he wants to bring his distinctive style to the gravel world. He will do so with the Classified X Ridley Factory Team, founded in 2023. It was the first factory team to compete on the popular gravel circuit.

Last season, the Classified team succeeded in the UCI Gravel World Series and prestigious gravel races such as Unbound and Lords of Tierra de Campos. With De Gendt's arrival, the team will have the ambition to push on.

"Thomas De Gendt brings immense experience to our team," said Mathias Plouvier, CEO of Classified, in the press release. "He possesses unparalleled perseverance and a passion for challenging races, which aligns perfectly with gravel racing. Above all, his pioneering spirit makes him the perfect addition to our Classified Factory Team and an excellent ambassador for our innovative technology."

For De Gendt, this switch means a new challenge and an extension of his cycling career. "Switching to gravel racing is a new challenge that I'm excited about," says Thomas De Gendt. "What I love about gravel is the combination of endurance and technique. With Classified's Powershift hub system, I can tackle any terrain with confidence and without compromise. I'm eager to see what we can achieve together and look forward to a successful season with the team. The roads may change, but the hunger remains," said the Belgian.

Team manager Nick Sannen is looking forward to working with De Gendt. "Thomas brings a wealth of Pro Tour experience that will be a tremendous asset to the team. He'll share his knowledge with his teammates, while we provide him with the support to excel in gravel racing."