Tim De Klerk's move to Lidl Trek next season was no secret, but the switch from Soudal-QuickStep was official and the US team confirmed the Belgian's contract on Tuesday morning.

The veteran domestique drew a 7-year spell in a quick step to join the new-look Lidl-Trek team, becoming the team's 2023 transfer market's 10th signing.

The 34-year-old Declercq with his work in the sprint lead-out and his long stint controlling the pace at the head of the Peloton as one of the sport's best domestic 1

He joined fellow newcomers Simone Consoni and Ryan Gibbons in the Italian lead-out train and signed a new contract with the newly signed spaniard. It is expected to form an important part of the team for printer Jonathan Milan, and he will also be working with former world champion Mads Pedersen.

"I think Lidl-Trek is a growing team with great value. They ride attractively and enhance the game every year," Declercq said in a press release issued by the team.

"I'm very excited to join them. Also, they are more and more keen to start working with a science-based approach and seem open for innovation. I have a background in physical education, so I really look forward to working in that environment.

"It seems that the Lidl logo is chasing me during my career.Declercq joked, referring to QuickStep's previous partnership with the supermarket brand. "But I think it's great for cycling that such a big company wants to invest in cycling. The reason they chose the Lidl-Trek team as their sponsor is just to show that it is a super professional team with great value.

Declercq has been part of the professional Peloton since turning professional at Topsport Vlaanderen in 2012. He switched to a quick step in 2017 and has since established himself as one of the best domestiques in the Peloton – in 2020 he won his fellow pro rider Cyclingnews

, which he has contributed to countless victories over the years but has not yet taken his own professional victories. No, his standout personal results to date in the 2nd place after teammate Yves Lampard in the 2020 Classic Bruges de Panne.

His departure from QuickStep is part of an update on the Belgian team, preparing the roster for Remco Evenepoel's GC ambitions. Sprinter Fabio Jakopsen and lead・out Michael Morkov are the others on the following list:

Declercq said it would be "very strange" to move on to a new team after spending a long time at QuickStep, but added that the team "wasn't the same anymore" in recent seasons and looked forward to new challenges with Lidl-Trek.

"I know most of the Belgians well, and I think we will have a lot of fun during the training camp. I also look forward to working for all the riders the team wants me to, but certainly I hope Mads Pedersen has value in the classic and grand tours.

Team General Manager Luca Guercilena praised Declercq as a "typical domestic" with a "selfless spirit."

"We are excited to welcome Tim Declercq to our team," the Italian said. "His unsurpassed dedication and unsurpassed skills make him a typical domestic. Tim named himself not because of his own results, but because of his selfless spirit and willingness to give all of his to collective goals.

"For this reason, we believe Tim will be a valuable addition to our roster. We look forward to achieving great success as we take this new step together.

Declercq will join Milan (Bahrain win), Consoni (Cofidis) and Gibbons (UAE Team Emirates) among the newcomers at Lidl-Trek in 2024. The team also has contracts with Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers), Sam Oomen (Jumbo-Visma), Andrea Bagioli (Soudal-QuickStep) and others.

Former U23 World Champion Filippo Balloncini (UAE Team Emirates) and retired Tony Gallopin lead the list of riders to go out.