Israel Cycling Academy announces:
KRISTS NEILANDS will keep on racing for ICA.
The Latvian rising talent signed a new two years contract.
Team: “ We see Krists developing further”.
Neilands: “Never imagined I will stay ICA for 5 years, but the team is growing fast and I want to achieve our goals together”.
Tel Aviv. August 28
Israel Cycling Academy has signed one of its brightest rising talents, Latvian Krists Neilands, for two more years.
The move is seen by both ICA and Neilands as a clear and resolute statement that the team is indeed keeping its commitment to reach the goals of competing successfully in the highest level of the sport.
“Signing Krists for two more years gives us a lot of recognition that we are doing things well“, said ICA’s pro manager Kjell Carlstrom. ”It also gives the team a bigger depth and we really look forward to seeing Krists develop further. He is talented both in one-day races and in stage races and with the growing experience he’s getting, we are certain he will take steps towards the absolute top of Pro Cycling”
Krists ( 25) has been with the team in the last 3 years and been consistently improving and becoming a proven winner. He recorded 8 victories with ICA.
He took part in two grand tours and took home his first GC title as the winner of Tour of Hungary.
The Latvian openly admitted “ that 3 years ago, when I first joined ICA, I never imagined that I will stay for 5 years. My plan was to move up at a certain point to a WT team. But now, when I see how this team is working and what ICA want to achieve, I want to continue achieve these goals together with ICA.
“I’m really happy to be here “ Continued the Latvian. “ I love the spirit what we have here. Every year I can see how the team is growing up and how we are coming closer to our goals and my wish for both the team and myself to reach it together”.
ICA has already stated its desires to reach the sport highest level and is now competing in a hotly contested race to become one of the top teams in the pro continental Level – so it can gain an invitation to the biggest races in the world.
The team raced in the Giro d’Italia in the last two seasons and is thriving to race in the Tour de France as early as 2020. ICA has recently signed Irish- man Dan Martin to further bolster its lineup.
But Neilands pointed out that there was another important reason for his decision: “ Look, ICA has become a second family to me. We have a super amazing atmosphere in the team and this is crucial for all the riders, staff and me – to achieve our biggest dreams together”.
Yalla Krists!
Happy to have you.
Pictures: Noa Arnon
