Confirming a long-rumoured transfer from the Movistar team, Team Sky has announced a three year deal with Vasil Kiryienka.
The 31 year old is coming on board primarily to work for the team leaders, but is also capable of grabbing strong results on his own. He took an unexpected third place in the world time trial championships in September, beating several well-known names in doing so.
However his palmares since turning pro with the Tinkoff Credit Systems team in 2007 show that he has long been a rider capable of clocking up good results. He won stages in the Giro d’Italia in 2008 and 2011, and has also clocked up stage wins in the Ster Elektrotoer, the Vuelta a Burgos and the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. In addition to that, he was second on stage ten of the 2010 Tour de France and sixth overall in this year’s Critérium du Dauphiné.
The Belorussian doesn’t envisage any problems in settling in. “I’m confident I will fit in without any difficulty as there are people I've known for a long time in the squad,” he said.
“Team Sky have enjoyed a fantastic season in 2012 and I’m looking forward to contributing towards even greater success over the next three years, whether that means working for myself, or for someone else.
His coming on board will help the team to fill the gap created by the departure of another strong time trialist, former world TT champion Mick Rogers.
Team Saxo Tinkoff has signed him, meaning that Sky will be missing one of its strongest riders from the 2012 season.
Kiryienka’s characteristics mean that he should be able to do similar work to the Australian. However he’s also got ambition to keep improving. “With the help of Team Sky I want to continue developing as a rider,” he said. “Everyone has made me feel welcome and I am keen to getting started.”
His future directeur sportif Nicolas Portal has faith that he can do big things with the team. “Vasil has won some big races and put in some impressive performances at the very highest level. His stage win at the Giro d’Italia last season was phenomenal, and we were all impressed with the way he was able to battle on and take the victory,” he said.
“He was third at the World Time Trial Championships and has a lot of other victories to his name. He’s such a strong rider and is going to be a great signing for the team.”