After three seasons with Israel – Premier Tech, Hugo Houle has signed a two-year contract extension to see him in IPT colours until 2026.
The 33-year-old has achieved career-best results with IPT, including his memorable Tour de France stage win in 2022, making it an easy decision to put pen to paper says the Canadian.
“It was natural to sign for another two years with Israel – Premier Tech,” explains Houle. “I feel at home in the team, it’s like a family, and I’m also really happy with the progress we have made in the team in the last two years. I’ve had the best results of my career to date with this team and I think we have achieved quite a lot. I’m excited for the next two years especially as it will bring me to the World Championships in Montreal in 2026 and that’s a big objective for me.”
While just three years of his 12-year career have been spent in IPT colors, his relationship with co-title sponsor Premier Tech and Jean Bélanger is longstanding, which Houle says is one of the big reasons he feels at home in the team.
“It’s a privilege to race and work with the riders, staff, and management we have and, of course, Premier Tech and our partners, which helps to bring out the best in me. I think we have a great future together and we will keep improving, so I’m really happy to extend.”
While Houle has the World Championships on home soil in his mind, he doesn’t need to wait that long to race in front of friends and family with next week’s Grand Prix Cyclistes de Quebec and Montreal providing the next opportunity to race in Canada.
Houle will play a key role for IPT at the one-day races with his consistency and reliability proving crucial for the team, explains IPT General Manager Kjell Carlström.
“When I think of Hugo Houle, the first thing that comes to mind is his reliability,” says Carlström. “Whether it’s as a teammate or battling for his own result, Hugo is incredibly reliable and will always give it absolutely everything. We all remember his Tour de France stage win, an emotional and well-deserved moment in his career, but in addition to this, he has delivered consistent results such as third place at last year’s Maryland Cycling Classic, and some solid General Classification results at stage races. Hugo brings a wealth of experience to the team and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do in the coming two years.”
