After a roller-coaster first season with Detunink Quickstep, Fausto Masnada has signed a new three-year contract extension.

Masnada joined Belgium's Quickstep Alphavinir midway through the 2020 season as his old club, CCC, disbanded.

He initially joined on a 17-month contract, but quickly became an important member of the team after podium finishes at the Tour de Romandie and Il Lombardia, and will be with them until 2024.

"When you are on a team like Deceuninck-QuickStep, you realize that it is a dream. 'We won the World Tour Class this year, and we're the strongest team out there. If I were to change teams, what would it be for?

"Secondly, I like that everything here is professional and they study everything. Everything is perfect and each member of the team is always looking to improve. I believe in the future of the team and that we can still step up, so we are here to keep growing year after year. It's a magical team and a big family. It's not just a job, it's a real friendship."

Masnada joined the team last August and made an immediate impact, finishing ninth overall at the Giro d'Italia while supporting Joao Almeida.

He started the year strong, finishing third overall in an elite group at the Tour de Romandie, but he had to pull out of the Giro d'Italia due to tendonitis in his knee; he returned in July, but a fall at the Settimana Ciclistica Italiana left him out of action again with a broken vertebra.

He returned in time for the Italian Classics at the end of the season and took his first Monument podium at Il Lombardia.

"Fausto has had a hard year with multiple setbacks, but he continues to work hard and his positive mindset and attitude is what it takes to make the most of it.

"Fausto has been great every time he has raced, whether it's full throttle for his teammates or taking his chances. I am happy that he was able to finish the season with such a good result at Il Lombardia. It is great that he will be with us for three long years."

The renewal of Masnada's contract is the latest event in a transfer market that has focused on strengthening existing players, with Lefebvre signing new long-term contracts earlier this year with Remco Evenpole, Julian Alaphilippe, and Kasper Asgreen.

The team acquired four new players, with Louis Verweke joining from Alpecin Phoenix to strengthen Evenpoel's support network, while youngsters Stan Van Tricht, Ethan Vernon, and Martin Svrček will turn professional in 2022.

Leaving the team are Sam Bennett and lead-out man Shane Archibald, who return to Bora Hansgrohe, Almeida and Alvaro Hodeg, who head to UAE Team Emirates, and finally Ian Garrison joins L39ION in Los Angeles.

Mark Cavendish is believed to be part of next year's team plans, but no new deal has yet been announced.