Ahead of a reported overhaul of their squad for 2015, BMC Racing have swooped to surprisingly complete a rare mid-season transfer for young South Australian Rohan Dennis of Garmin–Sharp.
So what will the future hold for young Rohan Dennis, and what does it mean for Australia’s beloved Cadel Evans?
The surprise mid-season transfer was reportedly motivated by Dennis’ desire to work again with current BMC performance manager Allan Peiper, who first worked with Dennis while employed at Garmin–Sharp.
While the transfer was expected to be completed at the end of the season, BMC Racing and Garmin–Sharp, with the permission of the UCI, came to an agreement to let the rider transfer immediately.
BMC Racing team president and general manager Jim Ochowicz has slated Rohan Dennis to make an immediate impact. Dennis is rumoured to be pencilled in to participate in the 2014 Vuelta a Espana alongside veterans Cadel Evans and Samuel Sanchez.
“This vastly improves our ability to be competitive in races that have prologues and time trials,” Ochowicz said.
“Rohan will also play a leadership role in some one-day races and one-week stage races that fit his profile.
“We expect him to a big asset in Grand Tours and one-day races, too, where he will have a working role.”
While obviously disappointed with losing one his most promising riders, Slipstream Sports and Garmin–Sharp CEO Jonathan Vaughters had only praise for young Rohan Dennis.
“Rohan is a great athlete. He has been a solid team member and together we have achieved great success, including a stage win at this year’s Tour of California and the overall win of 2013 Tour of Alberta,” Vaughters said.
“However, we understood his desire to work again with his former director Allan Peiper, when he was given the opportunity to do so in 2015.
“Rather than prolong the inevitable, we came up with a rare transfer solution that works best for Rohan and both teams.
“We view this move as not only a good step for the athlete and teams, but as major progress in the way the sport of cycling handles rider transfers. We wish Rohan luck in his new team.”
If Dennis can build upon his second place in the General Classification at the 2014 Amgen Tour of California, the 24 year-old may eventually be an in-house replacement for Cadel Evans in cycling’s three-week Grand Tours.
One of Dennis’ motivations for wanting to reunite with Allan Peiper being the young South Australian’s ambitions to improve in both the time trial discipline and as a stage racer for the General Classification.
“I would also like to start winning time trials in Europe and hopefully get on the podium for a tour in Europe, not just for a stage or a time trial,” Dennis said.
“To get a good overall position at a stage race is a huge goal of mine.”
Still yet to re-sign with BMC Racing, Cadel Evans’ future seems destined to be decided during the 2014 Vuelta a Espana. Set to participate in the upcoming 2014 Tour of Utah, the 2011 Tour de France champion is expected to participate in the 2015 Tour Down Under and the inaugural Great Ocean Road Race named in his honour.
However, beyond that it is uncertain if the veteran Australian will see out the entire 2015 season with BMC.
Keeping Evans around could arguably be good for BMC Racing due to the amount of wisdom he could impart on young Rohan Dennis. But from a financial point of view, keeping the 2011 Tour de France winner around could be a significant burden on the team’s rather massive budget. That might be better spent signing several younger emerging talents.
Whatever the future may hold for Cadel Evans, with BMC Racing rumoured to be in the process of also signing Italian climbing duo Damiano Caruso and Alessandro De Marchi of Team Cannondale, the capture of Dennis should prove to be a great first step for BMC Racing on the road to improving the team’s overall performance.
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