Australian cycling star Richie Porte will join BMC, confirming widespread speculation about the move.
Porte had said before last month’s Tour de France started that he would probably leave Sky, where he has ridden since 2012, for next season.
“I was close to coming to BMC four years ago,” Porte said in a team statement.
“This time, it was a hard decision, but the right decision.”
The Tasmanian ace again played a crucial domestique role as his good friend Chris Froome won the Tour for a second time.
Porte also was a key lieutenant for Brad Wiggins when he won the Tour de France in 2012 and for Froome the following year.
He left Sky because he wants to pursue his own ambitions in Grand Tours such as the Tour de France.
Porte and American Tejay van Garderen will now be BMC’s two main riders at the Grand Tours.
“I want to win races like Paris-Nice and Catalunya again and I think next year at the Tour de France, why not have Tejay van Garderen and me there? We get along well,” he said.
“It is exciting to be going to a team where I am going to have so many opportunities for myself to win races.”
Van Garderen was running third at this year’s Tour, but dramatically pulled out in the last week.
After opening this season with nine wins, Porte led Sky’s team at the Giro d’Italia, another three-week Grand Tour.
Porte made a promising start, but eventually pulled out after a string of mishaps.
Porte adds to the strong Australian contingent at BMC, which began with 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans.
Rohan Dennis, who won stage one of this year’s Tour, and Campbell Flakemore are currently on the BMC roster.
“Obviously, Cadel left his legacy with the team,” Porte said.
“When he was racing, it was almost like it was partially an Australian team.
“There were always so many Aussies at the races with BMC caps on.
“With them still having Rohan and Campbell – who is from Tasmania like me – the team still does have a fairly Australian flavour.”
steveng
Roar Rookie
Van Garderen's performance at the Tour de France was pretty weak and unassertive, he never ever looked like beating Froome or getting further up than his 3rd position, and when the pressure was on, he fell to pieces and he pulled out of the tour in a very weak manner. BMC cannot look to the future with Van Garderen's performances. Porte will add that missing edge to BMC which they have lacked ever since Cadel's legacy. But I'm still disappointed that Richie didn't join ORICA-GreenEDGE!
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Has not shown the consistency as of yet, but has the potential to do so. Porte should ride the Giro again for himself, and then the Tour in support of TJ.
Scott
Roar Rookie
Is Porte going to be clear number 1 rider for BMC at the Tour ? Or is it going to be shared with van Garderen? Could be potential for conflict here as two team leaders don't often work. Can't imagine van Garderen would be that happy, being team leader and now being relegated to at best dual team leader or worse back to domestique as he was to Cadel Evans. Porte is a good rider and great on individual stages but does he have the consistency to win a 3 week tour ??