Gabriel Rasch to switch to sports director role at Sky after 2014 classics

Norwegian rider Gabriel Rasch will switch to a directeur sportif role at Team Sky after completing the 2014 spring classics in April.

Rasch joined Sky at the start of the 2013 season, but at 37 he feels it's time to switch focus to assisting the next generation of riders at the British-based WorldTour team once he's ridden in the 2014 edition of Paris-Roubaix.

"I'd always hoped to become a sports director once my riding days had come to a close and this is a big chance for me to do what I'd love to do with a team that I love," said Rasch.

"It's great that Team Sky give riders like me a chance to develop and I'd like to thank Sir Dave Brailsford and the management for all their support. I'm looking forward to repaying their trust in me."

Rod Ellingworth, Sky's performance manager, said: "Gabba will join the DS team fresh from the bike which will make all the difference and will help him settle in quickly. This is an opportunity for him to pass on the huge amount of racing knowledge that he has accumulated over the years and pass it on to the younger riders - which I know he will relish."