© REUTERS
21-year-old Swiss Mauro Schmid is leaving Team Qhubeka for Deceuninck – Quick-Step, from next year Quick-Step – Alpha Vinyl, it was announced on Thursday. The promising rider signed a contract for two seasons with Patrick Lefevere’s Belgian WorldTour team.
Vincent Van Genechten
The 21-year-old Schmid comes over from Team Qhubeka NextHash, with whom he shone last season in the Giro by winning the eleventh stage to Montalcino. The Swiss signs a contract for two seasons with his “dream team”.
“I have a lot of memories of watching the classics when I was a kid,” said Schmid. “And again and again I saw this team perform. It’s about the mentality of always wanting to win and this team is so close. It’s really all or nothing and a lot of riders get the chance to win. So I want to integrate as well as possible.”
“Mauro is still young, but has already won a stage in a Grand Tour,” Lefevere said. “In that ride to Montalcino he showed what he has to offer. He also has a margin of progression, because until recently he combined different disciplines. He will focus on the road with us for the next two years.”
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all-rounder
Schmid is indeed an all-rounder. It can be used on the road, in the field, on a mountain bike and on the track. “I did everything for about four years. Usually it was mountain biking on Saturday, road racing on Sunday and then cyclo-cross all winter. It was quite a program as a teenager. When I got into the juniors I gave up mountain biking because I had more potential on the road. In my second year I started as a track cyclist. Last year everything came together nicely, with my first year as a professional on the road and then the Games. It was a huge step. Now I’m going to leave the track behind, but I don’t want to stop.”
The Swiss also stated that until last year he worked 40 hours a week, in order to train in the evenings. He was working as a car mechanic. In 2019 he also had to do four months of military service.
“So I was thrilled when I got to turn pro,” said Schmid. “Everything suddenly went fast. I’ve seen the other side, having a 9 to 5 job is really tough. Not everyone knows what that is, so I’m extra motivated to make my dream come true.”
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