Hunt signs for Team Sky along with Appollonio
Team Sky has signed British rider Jeremy Hunt along with his former Cervelo team-mate Davide Appollonio of Italy.
Hunt had been left without a team for next year after Cervelo pulled out of sponsorship. The Canadian bike manfacturer announced it would merge with the US-based Garmin team in late August and they took seven Cervelo riders, but not Hunt.
Fellow Brits Roger Hammond and Dan Lloyd moved over to Garmin, but after 15 years as a pro, and despite having one of his most consistent seasons, Hunt was left out.
The Devonian will now bolster Team Sky's classics line-up and can do a good job looking after a sprinter. At this year's Tour de France he shepherded Thor Hushovd, who spent nine days in the green jersey.
"Jeremy brings a wealth of experience with him which the younger riders will be able to benefit greatly from," said Sky's team principal Dave Brailsford. "His achievements speak for themselves and he is a well-respected rider within the peloton."
Hunt started his career with Banesto in 1997. Since then he has ridden with a variety of French and Belgian teams, big and small. The 37-year-old's biggest win came in 2002 at the GP Ouest France - Plouay. He has twice been British national road race champion.
By way of contrast, Appollonio has just completed his first year in the pro ranks. The 21-year-old Italian sprinter is Sky's fifth signing this year after Alex Dowsett, Rigoberto Uran and Xabier Zandio.
A full interview with Jeremy Hunt appears in the December Cycle Sport magazine. Out now priced £4.25
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Jeremy Hunt: Career wins
2009
Otley criterium
Tour of Denmark; stage four
2008
Tour de Langkawi; stage two
2007
GP d'Ouverture La Marseillaise
2005
Tour de la Region Wallonne; stage two
2003
Tour de Picardie; stage two
2002
GP Ouest France Plouay
2001
Circuit Franco Belge; stage
Tour de la Somme; stage
British national road race champion
2000
Tour of the Mediterranean; stage
Sea Otter Classic; stage
Herald Sun Tour
1998
Tour of Portugal; stage
Tour of Portugal; stage
Manacor-Manacor
1997
British national road race champion
Related links
Jeremy Hunt: Rider profileCervelo confirms end of cycling team
Garmin Cervelo emerges for 2011
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Editor of Cycling Weekly magazine, Simon has been working at the title since 2001. He fell in love with cycling 1989 when watching the Tour de France on Channel 4, started racing in 1995 and in 2000 he spent one season racing in Belgium. During his time at CW (and Cycle Sport magazine) he has written product reviews, fitness features, pro interviews, race coverage and news. He has covered the Tour de France more times than he can remember along with two Olympic Games and many other international and UK domestic races. He became the 130-year-old magazine's 13th editor in 2015.
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