German road race champion Christian Knees has signed up with British-based Team Sky after Pegasus Racing failed to secure a ride in cycling's top league.
Knees, 29, had signed up to the ambitious Australian Pegasus Racing outfit late last season having ridden for Milram since 2006, but sought to find a new squad for 2011 after Pegasus failed to first gain a ProTeam licence and then a Professional Continental place from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
Sky principal David Brailsford was pleased to offer Knees a new home for the 2011 season. "Christian is a super strong all-rounder who has had some terrific results, but I still don't think we have seen the best of him yet and hopefully we can help him fulfil his massive potential at Team Sky," Brailsford said.
"His personality is one that will fit well into the team and we are delighted to have such an experienced rider on board. He has a lot of capabilities in a lot of areas and will increase the depth of ability we have here. It's exciting to have secured his services."
Aside from his national road race title, Knees' most prominent result to date was a win at Bayern-Rundfahrt in 2008. In 2010 he achieved two top ten placings during the Tour de France, his eighth appearance in a Grand Tour.
Knees is the seventh confirmed new signing for Sky for 2011, along with climbers Rigoberto Uran and Xabier Zandio (Caisse d'Epargne), Italian Davide Appollonio (Cervelo), Australian Michael Rogers (HTC) and Britons Jeremy Hunt (Cervelo) and Alex Dowsett (Trek-LiveStrong). The team now has 30 riders on its roster.
Related links
Team Sky's early season line-ups
UCI offers explanation on failed Pegasus licence
Europe's new national champions 2010
