
The rumors were true: Sven Nys announced on Twitter this morning that he will serve as the owner and team manager for the Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team, staring March 1, 2016.

Sportief manager van @TelenetFideaCT ! Mijn nieuwe job voor de komende jaren. — Sven Nys (@sven_nys) December 14, 2015

Nys takes the reins from long-time sporting director Hans van Kasteren, who when asked about the team’s transition to Nys seemed optimistic, “With our main sponsors, I made the decision and I chose Sven as my successor,” van Kastren told Sporza, “We are all convinced that Sven will add value to the team. He is an icon in the sport and the added value it can provide to our riders and the team structure ultimately the deciding factor in this decision.”

Nys will start his work with Telenet-Fidea on March 1, and when asked about his new career path he said, “I’ve always said that after my career I wanted to train and guide young riders. That’s one of the pillars of Sven Nys Cycling Centre and Telenet-Fidea.”

For those worried that his new job responsibilities will distract Nys from the rest of his season, which has been by all accounts very successful—Nys has earned wins at Koksijde and Hasselt—Nys reassures you, “..but until March 1 I’m [a] rider at Crelan AA Drink Team and I [will] focus completely on my last months as a professional cyclist.”