Nicolas Roche confirmed for BMC for 2017 season
Team Sky's Nicolas Roche will team up with Richie Porte and Tejay van Garderen at BMC for the 2017 season
Nicolas Roche, Irish champion in both the road race and time trial, will race for BMC in 2017, confirming that he will leave Team Sky after two seasons.
The American outfit will be Roche's sixth top tier team in his 12-year career, having started at Cofidis and also ridden for Credit Agricole, Ag2r La Mondiale and Tinkoff-Saxo before arriving at Team Sky in 2015.
He helped Chris Froome to Tour de France glory in his first season and also won a stage of the Vuelta a España in the same year. This season he finished second at the Tour de Yorkshire and ninth at this weekend's Clasica San Sebastian.
"Nicolas brings a wealth of experience and is exactly the sort of rider we are looking for to support our Grand Tour ambitions and work for his own personal objectives. A lot of our goals are centred around Grand Tours and we felt we needed an additional rider who could bring us experience in that field," BMC general manager Jim Ochowicz explained.
>>> Cycling transfers 2017: All the ins and outs from the WorldTour
Roche rode seven consecutive Tours de France between 2009 and 2015, finishing 12th for Ag2r in 2012. The Irishman Grand Tour credentials were cemented with top-10 finishes in the Vuelta in 2010 and 2013.
"I'm super excited because BMC is a team that rides with a lot of the characteristics that I like. They're always up the front, riding with aggression and trying to make an exciting race. I think I'll enjoy the aggressive style of racing," Roche said.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"Looking ahead to the 2017 season, my main role will be to really support Richie Porte and Tejay van Garderen in their general classification ambitions, and hopefully I'll have a good go at the Vuelta a Espãna."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
Stock but not standard: Argonaut Cycles upgrades its stock offering to flagship status; launches carbon gravel wheels
With 13 frame geometries, Argonaut’s high-end stock program aims to streamline the buying process of its handmade bikes
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Claims against bankrupt Sir Bradley Wiggins’s estate double to £2m
Wiggins’s efforts to pursue money through the courts have been paused
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'With a few changes, it'll be class' - Josh Tarling optimistic about Ineos Grenadiers future
'Everybody wants to get better and get back to winning,' 20-year-old tells audience at Rouleur Live
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We've had a difficult year, I've had a difficult year' - Tom Pidcock hints at Ineos Grenadiers tension
Speaking at Rouleur Live, the 25-year-old also revealed that he hasn't enjoyed racing at the last two Tours de France
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers to partner with German development team for 2025
Ineos set to partner with German Continental squad Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank as an official development partner
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Where next for Ineos Grenadiers, now Steve Cummings has officially left?
After the Director of Racing's exit, the Tom Pidcock saga needs a final resolution before the team can move forward
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos' Director of Racing, Steve Cummings, confirms he is leaving the team after not attending a race since June
Announcement comes after months of uncertainty surrounding Cummings' position
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I never thought I'd really leave the team': Luke Rowe opens up on his reasons for departing Ineos Grenadiers
Welsh road captain is heading to Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale to become a sports director
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers announce 'highly motivated, hungry and ambitious' new performance structure for 2025
New sports directors, lead performance coach and head of performance support announced, among other changes
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I can help get the team back to where it was' - 20-year-old Artem Shmidt looks to the future after Ineos Grenadiers' disappointing season
Shmidt hoping to help revitalise team backed by Jim Ratcliffe after season of woes and as star rider Tom Pidcock gets set to move on
By Tom Thewlis Published