Peter Sagan to join Bora-Hansgrohe next season on three-year deal
By Paul Vinnell
Last Updated: 01/08/16 11:45am
Peter Sagan will join German team Bora-Hansgrohe next season on a three-year contract.
The world road race champion was a free agent for 2017 and beyond due to the fact his current team, Tinkoff, is folding at the end of the season. He will officially move across on January 1.
His new employers are currently called Bora-Argon 18 and race on the second-tier UCI Pro Continental tour but have recruited a new title sponsor in bathroom company Hansgrohe and will move up to the top-tier UCI WorldTour in 2017.
Sagan's Tinkoff team-mates Maciej Bodnar, Michael Kolar and Erik Baska, and his brother Juraj, are also all moving to Bora-Hansgrohe.
Team manager Ralph Denk said: "It is a great honour to welcome one of the most popular cyclists of our time into our team.
"That's why we tried to provide familiar surroundings as far as possible. I think Peter's trust in us proves that we did a good job in recent years and have a solid reputation in the peloton."
Denk admitted Sagan, 26, has been recruited for his experience in the Classics, particularly the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
"My goal is a well-balanced roster for the 2017 season," added Denk. "With Peter, the Classics will be a big highlight for us. But we also want to play a role in the Grand Tours, therefore we are still looking for new signings."
Sagan, who won the points leader's green jersey for a fifth straight year in last month's Tour de France, won the world road race title last September and will bid to defend his crown in Doha in October.
Zilina-born Sagan currently leads the UCI WorldTour rankings ahead of Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome.
