Iljo Keisse has extended his contract with Omega Pharma-QuickStep and will stay with the team through 2014.

The Belgian won stage 7 of the Tour of Turkey earlier this year, after having spent the day in an early breakaway and with seven kilometers left, he solo attacked.

"Iljo is improving year by year on the road races," Patrick Lefevere said. "This year he won also an unforgettable stage in Turkey with a thrilling final. We believe he can improve even more and become a good team player. Iljo is also a great track rider. With him we have the possibility to guarantee visibility to our sponsors even in the winter, during the track season."

If you have followed cycling for a while, you may remember that Keisse tested positive for cathine and a diuretic at the 2008 Six Days of Gent. The Belgian federation banned him for two years then lifted that ban at the end of 2009 and he started to race. Keisse wasn't too happy when the Court of Arbitration for sport later decided that he should sit out his entire ban. In August last year, he was allowed to ride everywhere in the world, except Belgium. However, since January 27, 2012, he can start in the Belgian races too.

"It's an honor to be a part of this team even in the future," Keisse said. "In the last years the team always supported me, even in the difficult moments. This year I participated also in Paris-Roubaix, my dream race. I hope to be able to compete in the great classics even in the next years and I will work for it. Now I will focus on the last part of the road season and then, during the winter I will ride also few Six Days, maybe not all of them. My first focus, in agreement with the team, is to prepare as best as possible for the 2013 road season."

Gert Steegmans, Julien Vermote, Niki Terpstra, and Nikolas Maes have extended their contracts into 2013 and Matteo Trentin, Stijn Vandenbergh and Andy Fenn renewed their contract through 2014.