Laurens Naessen has decided not to renew his contract with Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale and has started to get creative as a Belgian rider without a road team for 2024. He decided to join the ranks of the gravel privateers, and this year he has secured sponsorship from several top companies.

Oliver's younger brother, 31-year-old Nessen, a specialist in the classics, started road racing while still in college and raced as an amateur with his brother before turning pro in 2017 The two raced together in AG2R for the past four years. While Oliver has a contract extension through 2025, Lawrence is one of more than two dozen World Tour pros who have been unable to find a contract.

Others include Joe Dombrowski, Domenico Pozzovivo, Odd Christian Eyking, Lukas Pestlberger, and Amanuel Gebreigjabhier.

Lawrence Naessen posted on social media that he is starting a new off-road team called "Team Law," with sponsors Rapha, Scott Sports Benelux, Lightweight, Wahoo, Thule, Trainingpeaks, among others, as supporters of his gravel pursuits.

Other road pros who have competed at the World Tour level and then built their careers in gravel racing include Nathan Haas, Ian Boswell, Peter Stetina, and Lawrence ten Dam.

Nessen competed in the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships, finishing 16th behind winner Matej Moholyk.