Nicolas Roche is set to leave Team Sky to sign for BMC Racing for next season, according to Het Nieuwsblad.
Roche has ridden for the British team for the past two seasons and last year, he helped Chris Froome to his second Tour de France victory. Roche also took a stage victory in the Vuelta a Espana last year in Team Sky colours.
If he does sign for the American team, he will bring a wealth of experience to help Richie Porte challenge Chris Froome in next year’s Tour. In addition to working for Froome over the past two seasons, Roche previously rode alongside Alberto Contador on the Tinkoff-Saxo team.
The 32 year-old rode the Giro d’Italia this year prior to winning both the Irish time-trial and road race championships in June. However, he wasn’t selected to ride the Tour for Team Sky which was the first time that he missed out on selection since his first appearance in 2009.
Roche is due to line up in Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian (1.UWT) this weekend prior to travelling to Brazil to take part in the Olympic Games Road Race in Rio the following weekend. He is also listed as a starter for Team Sky in the Vuelta a Espana later in the month.
Oooh
It could be a good move for Roche. He would be a valuable domestique for BMC and more likely to get a starting place on their TdF team than Sky’s.
It could be a good move for Roche. He would be a valuable domestique for BMC and more likely to get a starting place on their TdF team than Sky’s.
good move
Missing out on Tour selection must have burned him a little. I keep thinking back to last year’s TTT.
No TTT at this years Tour so had liitle to do with selection…SKY just had top climbers and while Nico can climb he is more of an all rounder…BTW last yeasr TTT saw Roche save the day not ruin it as he hung on when Keenaugh a TT specialist, Rowe, Poles all blew …so he got bad press there when it should ahve been good…BMC perfect to have a go at one day races including the Ardennes
100% correct he cost them ttt last year
He didn’t cost them the TTT Glen, far from it. He wasn’t one of the 5 men Sky had planned to go to the line. Kennaugh blew up earlier than planned which left Roche with the majority of his workload when the plan was for him, Stannard, Rowe and Poels to do the earlier turns and burn out.
Porte, Teejay, Nico, GVA……. Not a bad team.
Plus Phillipe Gilbert former world champion & Atapuma one of the best climbers in the world !
Gilbert is away to Etixx Quick-Step
Think it would be a great choice
Where road racers go to die
I’m with you on that one. Porte should run like hell. No longer a grand tour team.
You could say the same about sky. All the good riders have riding for one man
Hopefully with a different approach that’ll see him ride at least a couple of Spring Classics.
Great move
definitely s good move !
Not strong enough for sky I’m afraid, be a big help to Riche and TJ
Susan Felton
about time.ignored at sky.treated him v bad.
Lol no shit. He lost too much weight after going to sky. Clearly affected his races. Hoping he starts riding shorter tours with bmc and gets in shape for the next tour