Cannondale-Drapac have announced the signing of Taylor Phinney for the 2017 season from BMC Racing.
The USA time trial champion has been with BMC since the start of 2011, after making the switch from RadioShack where he rode as a stagiaire for the latter part of 2010.
The move to Cannondale keeps Phinney in an American registered team and on the WorldTour, which is an important step for his career.
The 26-year-old's best result this year was victory in the stage one team time trial at Tirreno-Adriatico. He equalled this result at the recent Eneco Tour when BMC won the stage five team time trial.
Individually, Phinney has struggled for success but did take third place on the Tour of California time trial behind teammate Rohan Dennis and future teammate Andrew Talansky.
Phinney has been working back to his best since a crash at the 2014 USA Road National Championships caused a compound fracture to his tibia and a severed patellar tendon. He required surgery, and didn't race again until August of the following year.
“I have some close friends that race for the team. And it just generally seems like the team itself has a good vibe," Phinney said.
"I also met with [Vaughters] earlier this year and really connected,” he continued. “One of the major reasons is to work with Cannondale, as an American bike sponsor. My first bike I got was a blue Cannondale that I got from my parents."
He talked about his hunger for victory, “I just want to win. Because that’s what it’s all about. I feel like I’m to an age where I’m more comfortable with myself and who I am."
With reference to his injury in 2014, Phinney added: "I feel like I just got back to a point with my body that I’m able to think about goals and not just think about surviving these races. And that’s powerful."
