Darwin Atapuma has signed with BMC Racing for 2014, the American team has announced. The Colombian climber, who is currently riding for the ProContinental Colombia team, has impressed with several strong performances this season, including victory in the uphill finish to Bukowina Tatrzanska in the sixth stage of the Tour of Poland.
The 25-year-old was also very active in the Giro d’Italia, finishing ninth on the penultimate stage to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and ending the race in 18th place overall.
"This is a big moment for me," said Atapuma. "To go to the ProTour completes my dream. I know it will be a difficult task. My objective is to work for the team and for the team's leaders, so I will give my best."
It is Atapuma’s climbing skills that have attracted the American team to Atapuma, as BMC Racing’s president and general manager John Ochowicz explained, although the team is currently unwilling to disclose the exact details of his contract.
"We are happy to welcome Darwin to the team for 2014," he said. "He has shown on several occasions at ProTour races this year his skills in the mountains. He will be a great asset to the BMC Racing Team in the grand tours and other stage races."
Atapuma was pulled from the Colombia team that was set to start the Settimana Lombarda tomorrow, with team manager Claudio Corti citing a knee problem picked up in the TOur de l’Ain.
“Yesterday Darwin underwent an MRI on his knee and we are waiting for the outcome,” Corti explained. “We still hope to be able to include him back in the line-up, but we also need to be cautious looking ahead to the upcoming fixtures.”
Presumably, whatever problem that Atapuma is experiencing is not serious enough to affect BMC Racing’s decision to sign him.