Deceuninck-QuickStep coach Patrick Lefebvre welcomed the team's newest addition, Mauri Vansevenan, and stressed the importance of refreshing the team with a young rider.

Vansevenin, 21, joined the Belgian team in early July after completing his studies at the University of Bruges. Last year he won the overall at the Giro della Valle d'Aosta and finished sixth at the Tour de l'Avenir; Deceuninck-QuickStep announced the deal last August, and Vansevenant became part of the team's growing roster of young talent.

"With Joao Almeida, Andrea Bagioli (both 21 years old-editorial), Remco Evenpole (20), and now Mauri, we have young players," Leferet told Sporza (open in new tab). 'That way we can slowly but surely rejuvenate the Wolfpack and prepare them for the future.'

In addition to Van Sevenin, Bazioli, Almeida, and Evenpoel, the team has nine riders under the age of 25, including 22-year-old American time trial champion Ian Garrison and 23-year-old Alvaro Hodeg, who has four World Tour wins, Vuelta a España stage winners Fabio Jacobsen, 23, and Remi Cabaña, 24.

Vansevenan is the son of former professional athlete Wim Vansevenan, who spent most of his career in the Lot, and is named after the 1991 Vuelta winner, Merciol Mauri. As one of the youngest teams on the World Tour with an average age of 26.25, Lefebvre said he does not expect young newcomers like Evenpoel to start getting results right away, but they will be given time to develop without pressure.

"Mauri did very well at the U23 level and showed his climbing ability many times. He is still very young and will get time to develop professionally without pressure."

"We are not expecting anything from him in the short term. He can help the team if needed and we are not going to stop him whenever he has a chance to show his talent in the mountains."

Van Sevenan has already spent time with the team at the Flanders training camp in mid-June and at the winter camp in Calpe. He has tackled the cobbled climbs of Ghent-Wevelgem and the Tour de Flanders, but considers himself more of a climber than a classicist.

"I really enjoyed it, but I'm more of a climber than a classic. I like tough mountain stages. I like tough mountain stages. First of all, I still have a lot to learn."

"I wanted to finish school first. It's not compatible with being a professional cyclist. I'm very happy with my degree. I'm comfortable now. I feel confident about the future. It's something I'm going to need sooner or later."

Van Sevenan is currently in the Dolomites for the team's training camp and will take the Detunink Quickstep in Milan Torino (August 5) in early August. His debut season includes the Criterium du Dauphiné (August 12-16), the Grand Prix du Quebec and Montreal in September, and La Flèche Wallonne on September 30.