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.
Andy Fenn, Tour of Qatar 2014
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.”
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.
Leopold De Konig on stage 13 of the 2014 Tour de France
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