Saturday 2 August 2014 13:22, UK
Rohan Dennis will move from Garmin-Sharp to BMC Racing in a rare mid-season transfer.
The 24-year-old Australian, who finished second behind England’s Alex Dowsett in the Commonwealth Games time trial, will complete his switch between the two American teams on Monday.
Dennis expressed a desire to join BMC Racing in order to be reunited with his former sports director Allan Peiper, and Garmin-Sharp were happy for him to move early. The transfer has been approved by the International Cycling Union, the sport's world governing body.
In a joint statement from both teams, Jonathan Vaughters, the chief executive of Garmin-Sharp, said: “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.”
Dennis joined Garmin-Sharp from the Australian Continental team Jayco-AIS in 2013 and is regarded as one of the brightest young time-trialling talents in the sport.
This vastly improves our ability to be competitive in races that have prologues and time trials.
He won the 2013 Tour of Alberta in Canada and finished second behind Sir Bradley Wiggins at this year’s Amgen Tour of California, winning a stage along the way.
BMC Racing general manager Jim Ochowicz said: “This vastly improves our ability to be competitive in races that have prologues and time trials. 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.”
BMC Racing did not specify the length of deal Dennis has signed with the team, stating only that it “extends into the 2015 season”.
The team has also announced the signing of Alessandro De Marchi from Cannondale. The 28-year-old Italian was named most aggressive rider at this year's Tour de France. Again, the details of the contract have not been revealed.
Elsewhere, Astana greeted the opening of the transfer window on August 1 by announcing four new signings for 2015: Lars Boom from Belkin, Luis Leon Sanchez from Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Diego Rosa from Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela and Davide Malacarne from Europcar.
Cofidis have also been busy, cofirming the signatures of Nacer Bouhanni and Geoffrey Soupe from FDJ, Steve Chainel from Ag2r-La Mondiale and Dominique Rollin, who has agreed to come out of retirement.
