Nicolas Roche joins Sky for 2015
Irishman Nicolas Roche joins British WorldTour team Sky, along with Andy Fenn, Leopold Konig, Lars Petter Nordhaug and Wout Poels
Team Sky has announced the signing of five riders for the 2015 season: Nicolas Roche from Tinkoff-Saxo, Leopold Konig from NetApp-Endura, Lars Petter Nordhaug from Belkin, and Andy Fenn and Wout Poels from Omega Pharma-QuickStep.
Irishman Roche, 30, joins the team after a solid 2014 campaign that saw him claim overall honours at the Route du Sud, and finish fifth overall in the Tour of Britain.
"It’s a great honour to sign for Team Sky and I have the opportunity to ride with some of the best riders in the world," said Roche. "I feel that I’m still developing as a rider so now’s the perfect time to join Team Sky and to continue my upwards path. I’m confident that under the guidance of Sir Dave Brailsford and the team, I’ll continue to improve."
British rider Andy Fenn, 24, joins the team in a support role for the spring classics, and to develop further after his opening years as a professional with the Belgian Omega Pharma team. Junior Paris-Roubaix 2008 winner Fenn becomes the team's first Scottish signing.
Czech rider Leopold Konig impressed at this year's Tour de France, where he placed seventh overall for Professional Continental-level team NetApp-Endura. Dutchman Wout Poels has a number of stage wins to his name in the Tour of Britain, Vuelta al Pais Vasco and Tour de Luxembourg, and ridden in all three Grand Tours. Norwegian Nordhaug rejoins the squad have spent two years at Belkin.
"We’ve signed five quality riders for next season and each one of them will help strengthen and enhance the squad," said Sky team principal Dave Brailsford.
"We’ve always set our standards high and been very ambitious with our goals. We want to win the biggest races and constantly improve as a team and these new riders have the proven experience and developing talent to perform now and in the future."
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Sky recently announced that British riders Ben Swift and Geraint Thomas had re-signed with the team through to the end of the 2016 season. Edvald Boasson Hagen leaves the team to join MTN-Qhubeka.
Ben Swift signs to Team Sky for two more years
Yorkshireman Ben Swift extends with British WorldTour outfit Sky for two more years
Boasson Hagen leaves Sky for MTN-Qhubeka
Geraint Thomas signs up with Team Sky until end of 2016
Bradley Wiggins' future at Sky uncertain after he says track is a priority
Team Sky's Dave Brailsford tells Cycling Weekly that they are in discussion with Bradley Wiggins' management team
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Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
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