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Australian cyclist Simon Clarke, a key foundation member of the Orica-GreenEDGE team, will ride next season for Cannondale-Garmin.
Clarke confirmed early last month he would leave the top-level Australian team after four years.
The immediate speculation was that the 29-year-old would join BMC, who had signed his friend and compatriot Richie Porte.
But Clarke instead will ride for Cannondale-Garmin, another American-based squad.
“I’m really excited to finally be able to announce that I will be riding Argyle next year! Super motivated for a fresh start!,” Clarke tweeted.
The cyclingnews website quoted Clarke as saying he liked the balanced look of his new team’s roster.
“(They have) a nice blend of super-talented emerging riders complementing those with greater experience and I’m very excited to have an opportunity to play my role in the development and future successes of Cannondale-Garmin,” he added.
“I like (their) vision and feel riding for Cannondale-Garmin will give me fresh opportunities not only for myself, but to help the team achieve its goals.”
Clarke won a stage of the 2012 Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain) and also took out the king of the mountains category.
He was a member of the Orica-GreenEDGE squads that won the teams time trial at the 2013 Tour de France and this year’s Giro d’Italia.
Clarke also led the Giro overall for one day in the opening week.
He was then involved in controversy at the end of stage 10.
Clarke stopped and handed one of his wheels to Porte, who had suffered an untimely puncture while vying for the overall lead.
But the sportsmanship contravened cycling rules because it involved riders from different teams.
Porte was handed a two-minute penalty that effectively killed off his chances as an overall contender.
Clarke’s career also features the overall win at last year’s Herald Sun Tour in Victoria.
Apart from his own successes, Clarke is well regarded as a team leader and he will be a key rider for Australia in Sunday’s elite road race at the world championships.
“Simon has excellent experience and is a very good road captain,” said Cannondale-Garmin boss Jonathan Vaughters.
“He has the ability to help guide some of our younger riders and is capable of great achievements himself.
“He will be a fantastic addition to the team.”
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