Bobby Julich has been hired by the BMC Racing Team as a consultant “in the areas of training, individual coaching, equipment testing and overall performance strategies,” the American team has announced. The 41-year-old Texan, who finished third in the 1998 Tour de France, was working in a similar role with Team Sky until October last year, but his contract was ended by mutual consent due to the British team’s enforcement of its zero-tolerance anti-doping policy.
"I love the sport of cycling and feel I have a lot to offer," he said. "I'm really happy and excited the BMC Racing Team is giving me an opportunity to pass my experience along."
Following his retirement in 2008 Julich worked as technical director with Team Saxo Bank, where he had been a rider since 2004. He left this role in 2011 to join Team Sky, but - even though there was never a suspicion of anything untoward during his time with the team - left after he admitted past doping as he gave evidence to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) during its investigation into Lance Armstrong.
"We are excited to have Bobby join our performance team and look forward to working with him," said BMC Racing’s president and team manager John Ochowicz.
"I am really excited with Bobby's involvement and his ideas on coaching and on the streamlining of our training department," echoed assistant directeur sportif Alan Peiper.