Nicolas Roche to leave Team Sky for BMC, say insiders
Inside sources say that Irish national champion Nicolas Roche will join American team BMC Racing for the 2017 season, leaving Team Sky after two years
Irishman Nicolas Roche will leave Team Sky after two seasons and join BMC Racing in 2017, say inside sources.
Roche supported Chris Froome at last year's Tour de France and Vuelta a España. He went on to win a stage in the Vuelta, stage 18 to Riaza, after Froome abandoned with a broken foot bone.
The 32-year-old, son of Stephen Roche, will likely support Richie Porte in his bid to win the 2017 Tour de France. The American WorldTour team in red and black should announce the new contract sometime next month when, according to UCI rules, teams may officially sign riders.
This year, Roche won both the Irish time trial and road race championships. He rode the Giro d'Italia in support of Sky leader Mikel Landa and helped Mikel Nieve win a stage and the blue mountains jersey after Landa abandoned sick.
Czech Leopold König, who joined Sky after placing seventh in the Tour de France in 2014, is set to return to team Bora-Argon 18. Italian Salvatore Puccio could join Vincenzo Nibali in the new Bahrain team. Spaniard Xabier Zandio will end his career this season.
>>> More details revealed as new Bahrain Cycling Team officially announced
The British WorldTour team is firming up its 2017 roster with a new contract for Froome's mountain helper Sergio Henao. It already confirmed Geraint Thomas will continue in its black and blue colours. Mikel Nieve and Wout Poels will remain with Team Sky, as well.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Watch: Show us your scars - Stephen Roche
Ian Stannard, Luke Rowe and Michal Kwiatkowski all have existing contracts through 2017 and will lead the team's one-day charge from Milan-San Remo to Paris-Roubaix. Poels, of course, won Sky's first monument, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, in April.
Kwiatkowski will not only have Michal Golas, but another Polish team-mate if Lukasz Wisniowski leaves Etixx-QuickStep as reported.
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
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
‘There's no point to race for 50th place’: Peter Sagan explains why he’s a cycling esports ambassador but won’t compete
As a MyWhoosh ambassador, Sagan admires the sport’s evolution, but does he have the watts to compete with today’s virtual cycling stars?
By Christopher Schwenker Published
-
Rapha's loss, your gain: prices slashed sitewide amid profitability concerns
The British clothing brand unveils an almost unheard-of 25% discount across its entire product range
By Hannah Bussey 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