Rik Verbrugghe to move from QuickStep to BMC for 2011

by Jered Gruber at 7:45 AM EST

Second year director sportif heading to ever improving Swiss team in 2011

Successful Belgian racer Rik Verbrugghe retired in 2008 following a solid career on the road. The former winner of La Fleche Wallonne hung up his race wheels and moved over to a position as a director sportif with the QuickStep team in 2009 and 2010.

After two years sharpening his director's knife at QuickStep, Verbrugghe will make the change from QuickStep to BMC for 2011. Verbrugghe will further increase the Belgian presence on BMC, which will no include sprinter Greg Van Avermaet and young talent Yannick Eijssen along with team manager John Lelangue.

The former stage winner at the Tour de France (2001) and three stages at the Giro (2001, 2002, 2006) enjoyed a lengthy 13 year career before calling it quits at the end of the 2008 season.

In short, Verbrugghe knows his way around professional cycling, and that's something not lost on his future employer.

BMC President, Jim Ochowicz, commented on Verbrugghe's move for 2011: "He is someone who is fresh off the racing scene, but who also has experience in the field directing a ProTour level team. The combination of the two bodes well for our program, and what we're trying to build moving forward."

BMC Racing Team director sportif, John Lelangue, was similarly impressed with the still young DS, Verbrugghe: "Even if he only has two years of experience as a director, Rik has a good vision of all the races. In talking to him at the events where we have both been, we have always shared the same view of the races."

Verbrugghe is excited about the move to the ever growing BMC team and feels that there are many good things to come for the Swiss based squad.

"The BMC Racing Team has a bright future with both young and experienced riders. They also have a modern program, which is very important. It's going to be a very productive team in the future."

The former Prologue specialist will focus mainly on the early season one-week stage races according to BMC, while Fabio Baldato will direct the Giro d'Italia, and Mike Sayers will continue to direct the American side of the racing, including the Tour of California.

Verbrugghe's departure from QuickStep isn't the only loss on the director's side for the Belgian superteam heading into 2011. Luca Guercilena will leave the team at the end of the year to join the new Luxembourg team of Andy and Frank Schleck.

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