Tejay van Garderen dispels exit rumours by re-signing with BMC beyond 2016 season

Tejay van Garderen has committed his future to BMC, signing a contract extension with the American team, dispelling rumours that he would leave at the end of the season.

The day before the 2016 season kicks off, van Garderen and BMC penned a new contract which runs beyond the end of the year. With BMC Switzerland agreeing to continue as title sponsor, the team is in a position to plan it's long-term future.

Trek-Segafredo were linked with a move for the 27-year-old, who has twice finished fifth at the Tour de France, but this latest development will see van Garderen race in black and red for the foreseeable future.

"This will be my fifth year with the team so when you get to know everyone so well over a period of time you become more like family," he said. "I really like the way the team operates. I like all of the guys and I definitely think this is the perfect environment for me to flourish with my career.

"My main goal is the Tour de France, it is the pinnacle of the season and I'd like to shoot for the podium or victory over the next few years.

"I think BMC Racing Team offer a higher level of support than what you get at other teams. The training camps, the altitude camps, wind tunnel testing, there is no stone left unturned."

Tejay van Garderen's BMC Teammachine

Van Garderen joined BMC after two years racing with HTC High Road and finished fifth at the Tour in his first season. Since then he has struggled with illness and injuries in the Grand Tours, withdrawing from both the Tour and Vuelta a España in 2015.

"Both Tejay and BMC Racing Team continue to strive towards reaching some of our goals which have not yet been accomplished together," said BMC general manager Jim Ochowicz. "It also solidifies his leadership in the team, in that Tejay is one of our captains.

"It's important for the team as a whole to have Tejay continue on with us as a leader of the organization and completes what we started with him four years ago.

"We've recently announced the extension beyond 2016 and Tejay is part of that extension. We are happy to be able to announce today that he'll be continuing on with us in the future."