• The Belgian National Coach will co-ordinate between management and sportive side at ISN

  • Verbrugghe will also act as sport director at major races

The Belgian brings many years of experience as a rider, sport director and sport manager to the team. He enjoyed a successful 13-year career as a rider, during which he won stages in the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. After retiring in 2008, he became a team director in various WorldTour teams before taking on the role of his country’s head coach. He will now be expected to bring his enormous experience both as a rider and as a director to team ISN, which has upgraded its roster significantly, bolstered by the addition of Chris Froome.

“I am happy and proud to be asked to join this prestigious long-term project,” said Verbrugghe. “I am delighted to see that the team is working scientifically and professionally, aiming for the absolute top.”

“The newly-signed riders will upgrade the team’s abilities and ambitions. With Chris Froome on board we can go for the GC in Grand Tours,” Rik said. “My job will be to set goals for the riders as well as the sports directors, so that the team will realize its ambitions.”

As sportive manager, Rik “will be responsible for the communication between the team management and the sportive side,” said team manager Kjell Carlström. “He will have several tasks, including coordinating the programs of the sport directors, as well as working with the team manager on the riders’ schedules. In selected races he will act as sport director.”

As part of the agreement to join ISN, Rik will be allowed to serve as the  Belgian national coach for the U23 and Elite men in the European and Worlds Championships.