Stefan Küng has extended his contract with Groupama-FDJ for a further three years.
The Swiss time trialist and Classics contender had attracted interest from several major WorldTour teams but he will remain a cornerstone of the French team.
He will lead the Classics squad and play a vital support role for David Gaudu in future editions of the Tour de France. Küng will also continue to help develop the team’s time trial equipment and racing technology.
Küng’s new contract means he will stay with Groupama-FDJ until the end of 2025.
He finished third in the rain-soaked road race World Championships in Yorkshire in 2019, was third in the 2020 time trial world championships and won the European time trial title in 2021, which he will defend next week in Munich.
His palmares includes 22 career victories and a third place in this year’s Paris-Roubaix, fifth at the Tour of Flanders and third at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic. He finished fifth overall at the Tour de Suisse and was again a vital road captain for Groupama-FDJ at the Tour de France as Gaudu finished fourth overall.
Team DSM were reportedly keen to sign Küng to lead their Classics squad for 2023 but he apparently secured a similar contract offer of over one million Euro and so opted to stay at Groupama-FDJ.
“I feel good at the Groupama-FDJ cycling team and I get a lot of support from the people who work with me, which is a bonus for my career,” Küng said.
“We've made a lot of progress in the last four years, it was important to continue on that road. We have quality riders joining the team, especially some young recruits, which is very motivating. I know that I can share my experience with them.
“I have different talents. The team is counting on me to be the road captain but I will also have some freedom in the one-week stage races and the Classics. We will have a very strong team for the Classics and I’m already looking forward to them.
“I’ll also continue to work on research and development and our relationships with [bike brand] Lapierre will intensify.”
Küng is in the prime of his career but is looking to 2024 for some special success in time trials and on the road.
“2024 will be a very important season for me with the Paris Olympics and the World Championships in Zurich and the team supports my plans and goals there,” he said.
