Brent Bookwalter and Tsgab Gourmay have signed one-year contract extensions with Australia's Mitchelton Scott and will remain with Mitchelton Scott in 2021. Both players arrived at Mitchelton Scott ahead of the 2019 season.

Bookwalter's standout performance in 2020 was a seventh-place finish at Strade Bianche, the first World Tour race held after the season was interrupted by a coronavirus outbreak.

The 36-year-old also rode strongly to help Simon Yates win the overall at Tirreno-Adriatico, but was forced to abandon the Giro d'Italia at the end of the opening week after suffering a suspected lumbar fracture in a stage 2 crash.

Mitchelton-Scott then left the race en masse after four people were confirmed to have contracted coronavirus on their first rest day. Team leader Simon Yates had already abandoned the race after being diagnosed with COVID-19 at the end of stage 7.

"Considering the year I had with this crazy COVID-19, there are a lot of positives I was able to gain from the season. I feel more at home and more in sync with the team, the coaching staff, the performance staff, and my teammates.

"I think this was my best result as a single day in a one-day race on the World Tour. Being a dad this year has challenged me on how to put it all together, both at home and in training. To have such a strong showing at Strade Bianchi was really encouraging and inspiring for the next few years.

Bookwalter comes to Mitchelton-Scott in 2019 after a full professional career with BMC. He helped Cadel Evans win the 2011 Tour de France and is now part of Simon Yates' guard at Mitchelton Scott.

"Looking ahead to 2021," Bookwalter said, "I want to continue what I left undone this year, heal my season-ending back injury from the Giro, get back to work, and help the team achieve its big goal of winning the Grand Tour and winning the overall.

Like Bookwalter, Grumai will begin his third year with Mitchelton-Scott in 2021. Entering his ninth season as a professional, the Ethiopian has a wealth of experience, having worked with MTN-Kubeka, Lampre, Bahrain-Merida, and Trek-Segafredo.

In 2020, Gourmay helped Adam Yates (who will move to Ineos in 2021) win the UAE Tour and recently finished the Vuelta a España.

"I am very happy to continue riding with this team next year. The team has a really great atmosphere with the riders and staff.

"I always look forward to racing with my teammates and having a great time. I'm very lucky to be part of this again next year and I'm looking forward to it.

"I'm going to do my best to help the GC guys and do whatever the team needs me to do and make me work. I'm really ready and I'm going to work hard and fight for it."

Sports Director Matt White welcomed the contract extensions of the team's two most trusted domestics. Tugab is a dedicated guy who you can tell enjoys his role. He is a true team player and gives 110% every time he puts on his number," White said, describing Bookwalter as a "valuable senior for young prospects" and a rider who "still has the ambition to achieve something on his own. "

Mitchelton Scott has moved Adam Yates to Ineos and Jack Haig to Bahrain McLaren for the 2021 season, but Michael Matthews from Sunweb and Tanel Kangerdt from EF Pro Cycling will join.

Mikel Nieve, Esteban Chavez, and Lucas Hamilton will also remain with Mitchelton Scott next year.

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