BARBIER TO STAY WITH ISRAEL START-UP NATION TWO MORE YEARS

Rudy Barbier is being rewarded for a strong performance in a difficult year with a two-year contract extension. The French rider has set his sights on becoming a world-class sprinter after bringing Israel Start-Up Nation its first win ever as a WorldTour team.

“I am very happy to continue this great adventure with ISN. My goal is to win with this team in the WorldTour.  I have had several WorldTour podiums in my career and I want to bring this victory to ISN,” Rudy said.

He knows that winning sprints is a team effort. “We need to work together in the sprint and keep the same leadout team as much as possible. It is impossible to win a sprint alone. I go very fast in the last few meters and I always do a fast final. With a strong team around me we can win quickly in the WorldTour.”

Rudy, who considers himself a “pure sprinter. No long climbs and I like high-speed finishes,” added,“I am proud to have brought the first victory for the ISN WorldTour team. (Team manager) Kjell Carlstrom and (team owner) Sylvan Adams have shown great confidence in me and I am happy to pay them back.”

The 27-year old now hopes to tackle his first Grand Tour. “I will do my best at the Tour of Slovakia to show that I can do well enough to hopefully be selected for the Giro d’Italia, which is my dream. Thank you ISN for your confidence! YALLA!!!”

“Rudy has shown us his sprinting ability with his victory in San Juan,” said our French Sport Director Lionel Marie. “Now he has the team spirit and extra confidence from the contract extension.”

“We expect a lot from him. He recently became a father, and we hope this gives him more maturity. Rudy needs to concentrate on the constant work and constant improvement which are the standard routine of WorldTour level sprinters. Yalla Rudy, keep on fighting!”

Rudy sprinted to the win in the first stage of the Vuelta a San Juan in January and has put in a full schedule in the shortened 2020 season, bringing in multiple top ten placings. He also has the dubious distinction of being the only Israel Start-Up Nation rider to have been in the two COVID-shortened races, the UAE Tour and Paris-Nice.

Since the re-start of the season, he has been in the Sibiu Cycling Tour, the Tour of Poland, with two top ten finishes, and the Tour of Hungary, with three top ten finishes.

“We are extremely happy to announce that Rudy has decided to stay with the team,” Carlström said. “He has shown each year that he is taking steps forward and that he can sprint with the best riders in the world like in the UAE Tour,” where he finished third in the sprint of the opening stage.

Rudy has been working with team coach Greg Henderson, and is now on his way to the Tour of Slovakia to prepare for the Giro. “We have a great team at the Giro to put me in the best position in the sprints.  I watched the sprints in Tirreno and the team leadouts were amazing. I’m excited to join them in Italy!”