Ireland's Nicolas Roche is to move to a new team; signing for WorldTour squad Team Sunweb. Above, in the Vuelta climbers' jersey in 2013 when he won a stage and held the race lead riding for Tinkoff-Saxo.
Nicolas Roche agrees contract with Team Sunweb
Nicolas Roche will ride for WorldTour outfit Team Sunweb next year. The Irish rider will go there to support Tom Dumoulin.
He is currently coming to the end of his contract with BMC Racing. It is not continuing in its current format. Instead, it is merging with Polish team CCC Sprandi Polkowice.
Rumours Roche was destined for Team Sunweb had been doing the rounds for some time. But he has now confirmed it to the Dutch site that reported it first.
"I think it's a very good move for me. It fits perfectly with where I am at this point in my career," Roche told AD.nl from La Vuelta.
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"I'm very excited to go into what looks like a very well organised and well structured team with very big goals.”
Furthermore, he believed Dumoulin, the Giro winner last year, would be riding to try and win the biggest prizes.
"I believe the last few years he's shown he is progressing year after year into that important win for him,” he said.
“To win the Tour you need everything to go right; not just the legs. He's a real contender for the Tour win.
"I'll be there to be in support. I think in some races I can still have my chance. I want to be there to share my experience with the young riders."
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In the colours of his current employers, BMC Racing, at the recent Arctic Race of Norway.
Nicolas Roche first joined the pro peloton in September 2004, with 14 years now under his belt.
Then aged 20 years, he started as a stagiaire with Cofidis and stayed with them for two full seasons.
He then went to Credit Agricole, for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. There followed a four-year stint with AG2R-La Mondiale.
And in 2013 he began a two-year stint with Saxo-Tinkoff, where Alberto Contador was team leader.
The 2015 and 2016 seasons were spent with Team Sky. And he has been with BMC Racing for the last two seasons.
Nicolas Roche has two Grand Tour stage wins to his name; at the Vuelta in 2013 and 2015. He also won the Route du Sud, and a stage, in 2014.
And in 2011 he won a stage of the Tour of Beijing. He was 6th and 5th overall at the Vuelta in 2010 and 2013 respectively.
His best finish in the Tour came in 2012 when he was 12th into Paris. He has previously said he could see himself racing until he was aged 40.
Riding for Team Sky in the Giro two years ago. He rode with the British team for two years.
In the colours of AG2R-La Mondiale; winning a stage of the Tour of Beijing from compatriot Philip Deignan back in 2011.
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