The rider transfers guide for 2012-2013, Part 2
The cyclist was first approached by the team’s Sports Director Nick Gates earlier this year, who succeeded in signing him with Riis team.
“I know some people will immediately question my choice of teams,” Roche said.
“While the sport’s governing body and the various anti-doping bodies are doing more and more to clean up cycling and the holes in the net are closing up”.
“For years, my dad has been telling anyone prepared to listen that I need a strong, charismatic directeur sportif who can take me in hand and has the knowledge and years of experience to help me progress,” Roche said.
“So it’s hardly surprising to hear that he thinks I made a good decision in joining the Danish squad.”
The second big transfer of the season is the signing of Vincenzo Nibali with Team Astana. The Italian has agreed to assist the team for the coming two years after finishing its associations with Team Liquigas-Cannondale.
The cyclist marked his professional debut with Team Fassa Bortolo in 2005 and joined the Italian side, Team Liquigas after spending one-year with the first team.
He helped the team with numerous top performances in the past season and his exclusion will definitely hurt the Team General Manager Roberto Amadio.
The 27-year-old secured an overall victory at the Tirreno-Adriatico 2012 and also managed to bag the fifth stage and the point’s classifications at the race.
He occupied the second overall spot at the Tour of Oman and wins the fifth stage at the race along with a second place finish at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2012.
Vincenzo finished third at the Milan-San Remo and occupied the third overall spot at the most prestigious cycling race of the season, the Tour de France 2012.
His recent performances in the past season include a third and a second overall finish at the Giro d’Italia 2010 and 2011 respectively.
The cyclist claimed the first overall position at the Vuelta a Espana 2010 and occupied the seventh overall position during the 2011 version of the race.
The insight of all the new signings, re-signings and retirements for the season ahead is as under.
BMC Racing Team
Daniel Oss and Dominik Nerz have will ride in Team BMC colours after leaving their previous side, Team Liquigas-Cannondale.
Team Ag2R La Mondiale
Steve Chainel of Team FDJ-Big Mat, Davide Appollonio of Team Sky, Carlos Betancur of Team Acqua & Sapone and Yauheni Hutarovich of Team FDJ-Big Mat have signed up with the team.
Nicholas Roche has left the team and will ride along Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank for the season ahead.
Tags: