Belgian stage-racing hopeful extends with Silence-Lotto

by Nick Mulder at 7:32 AM EST

Belgium’s Jurgen Van den Broeck has renegotiated and extended his contract by one year with Marc Sergeant’s Silence-Lotto team. The strong climber turned heads with a fifteenth place in the overall of this year’s Tour de France. His performance netted him a more financially appealing contract till the end of 2011 with the Belgian Pro-Tour team who will be racing under the name Omega Pharma-Lotto next year.

“I had to take this chance,” said Van den Broeck in Monday’s Gazet van Antwerpen. “I feel at home in Silence-Lotto. They give me the necessary freedom in my preparations. For this reason I quickly accepted their offer.”

The departure of World Champion Cadel Evans to America’s BMC opens a new door for the 26 year-old Van den Broeck, “Of course this brings along the added responsibilities and stress. But I am turning 27, an age where you are ready to become the team captain. I think my results in the Tour have proven that I can handle the pressure despite doing my own thing while riding in Evans’ shadow,” explained Van den Broeck.

The Belgian kicked off his professional career in 2004 with Lance Armstrong’s US Postal team before switching to Lotto in 2007.

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