you're in the peloton, never sure of your place and that it's everyone for themselves. The are big clichés, but they are true in the case of Frederik Backaert. The farmer's son, who at the foot of the Berendries lives, saw his expiring contract with Wanty Gobert to his own surprise, not immediately renewable. The discussions with management were repeatedly postponed. Weeks to months of uncertainty. Could eventually Backaert only his scribble on 5 January.
“It was extraam late, but I'm happy with my contract. Even though I have to surrender. It came after my descending commitment boils down to is that the only place for me was as a new sponsor with additional budget over the bridge would come,” says Backaert us on the ploegstage in Alfas del Pi. “If something is so long time lasting, than beginning you have to think. There was me at the end of October promised that I could stay, but that was so dependent on that sponsor. It was at that time already too late for any other options to explore. At that time of the year you will find just not a single team that will still have enough budget for an extra rider. And for a minimum wage, I wanted to not go to courses, then I could better do something else. No, mid-december I went there not more of that I was still a rider would be after the new year.”