BMC Racing drop down to 24 riders with reduction of peloton size in 2018 races
The American team chop their roster down from 29 with the peloton size reduced to 176 riders in 2018
BMC Racing have announced that they will reduce their roster to 24 riders from 29 for the 2018 season, after the UCI announced earlier this year that the men's peloton size will be reduced to 176 riders in 2018 races.
Cycling's governing body announced in September during the World Championships that total riders in races would be reduced for safety reasons, however concerns have been previously raised by some riders that such a move could leave fewer spaces for riders in WorldTour teams.
>>> ‘Grand Tour riders will become more valuable with eight rider teams’
Grand Tours will see teams reduced down to eight riders each, while one-day races and shorter stage races will see teams capped at seven riders each. Regulations will apply to all events in the UCI International Road Calendar.
BMC are the biggest team so far to announce a reduction of their rider roster, with four new riders - Alberto Bettiol, Patrick Bevin, Simon Gerrans and Jürgen Roelandts joining the squad.
The American team have waved goodbye to a number of riders through transfers to other teams, including Italian Classics specialist Daniel Oss who moves to Bora-Hansgrohe and Frenchman Amäel Moinard to Fortuneo-Oscaro.
Meanwhile, Italian time triallist Manuel Quinziato retires and former Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez was sacked by the team after his doping positive, though was out of contract at the end of the 2017 season.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Despite the unfortunate news of Sanchez's positive test towards the end of the season, BMC recorded their best ever season in 2017 with 48 victories (22 at WorldTour level), the highest ever by the team, while Greg Van Avermaet took the UCI WorldTour title.
Much of the success came through Belgian Van Avermaet, who went on a storming Classics campaign that saw him win Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, E3 Harelbeke, Ghent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix. Richie Porte gave the team some success in WorldTour stage races at the Tour Down Under and the Tour de Romandie, although missed out on a high placing at the Tour de France after a bad crash.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
'I don’t know where I’d be without my leg' – Paracyclist Meg Fisher to tackle Ecuador’s Highest Peak, 20,549ft Chimborazo, to help provide life-changing prosthetics for amputees
'I will never forget how people told me to keep my expectations of my abilities low...I’m doing this to see if I can do it and to show others that they can do it too,' says Fisher.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Tweets of the week: Tadej Pogačar's special nutrition isn't as pro as you think
The Giro d'Italia winner has his own Italian dish
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Intermarché-Circus-Wanty riders fined and sent to education course after racist gesture
Madis Mihkels and Gerben Thijssen sanctioned after incident at the Tour of Guangxi
By Adam Becket Published
-
Intermarché-Circus-Wanty riders apologise after being withdrawn from race over racist gesture
Madis Mihkels and Gerben Thijssen sent home from Tour of Guangxi after social media post of racist gesture
By Adam Becket Published
-
Biniam Girmay shares photo of eye-catching new helmet design
Eritrean rider shares image of new boxing cork design on cafe stop during training ride
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How the team with the smallest budget in the WorldTour is overtaking the competition: The rise of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert
The Belgian team has been punching above their weight all season
By Adam Becket Published
-
Biniam Girmay's stage 11 start in question after podium mishap
Eritrean stage-winner injured his eye with a cork during podium celebrations
By Adam Becket Last updated
-
'Unbelievable': Biniam Girmay seizes opportunity in watershed moment for cycling
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert rider becomes first Eritrean Grand Tour stage winner
By Adam Becket Published
-
Racing every race like it's the last of the season: how smaller teams are overperforming this year
Lotto-Soudal and Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux have won 11 races between them in 2022 after just 21 in all of last year, so what's going on?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Josef Černý solos away from breakaway to Giro d'Italia 2020 stage 19 victory
The Czech rider took a solo victory on the truncated stage 19
By Richard Windsor Published