Following their current Omega Pharma Lotto team captain Philippe Gilbert across from that squad, the talented Briton Adam Blythe and the promising Belgian Klaas Lodewyck have been announced as signing for the BMC Racing Team. The duo will both race with the team in 2012, although it has not been made clear if the deals extend past one year.
Blythe is just 21 years of age but has already achieved some strong results in the sport. As a junior, he was part of the winning team pursuit squad at the European championships in 2006 and 2007; more recently, he won a stage of the Thüringen-Rundfahrt at 19 years of age, then the following season went on to win two stages plus the overall in the 2010 Circuit Franco Belge.
This year third place has been a bit of a theme, with the youngster finishing in that position in the GP Stad Zottegem, on Stage 2 of the Ster ZLM Tour, and on the opening stage of Ronde van Drenthe. He was also third overall in the latter, and won the best young rider competition.
“The BMC Racing Team wants to make me a better bike rider, which is what I really need at the moment," he said, looking forward to the new opportunity. “I would like to go for some stages in races like the Eneco Tour next year, but my main goal is to get onto the Classics team. I think it will very hard, though.”
Lodewyck is two years and took wins in the Belgian races at Kortemark and Borsbeek this year. He was second in the Wanzele event and completed his first Giro d’Italia. He too sees the change as being something which will help him develop well.
“If I want to make the next step in my career, it's important to go to a team that can bring me to a higher level” he stated. “I want to try and perform well the whole year and maybe try to win a nice race. It's also important for me to help the other big riders on the team. That will be a big challenge for me.”
BMC Racing Team president and general manager Jim Ochowicz welcomed both to the team, and said he sees them initially playing a supporting role. “They are both young talents that are fast, strong and ready to lend their skills to the BMC Racing Team,” he explained, talking about why they were attractive to the squad. “We will especially be looking to them to support our team leaders during the Classics season and throughout the rest of the season.”
One existing rider has been confirmed as staying on board in 2012. The individual in question is Danilo Wyss, who joined the team in 2008 and won a stage of the Tour de Beauce the following season.
“Danilo has spend the last several years improving his skills as a teammate for the Classics riders on the team and he will maintain this role again next season,” said Ochowicz.
The BMC Racing Team will feature three big captains next year, namely Tour de France champion Cadel Evans, world number one Gilbert and 2010 world champion Thor Hushovd. The roster will also include the Americans George Hincapie and Taylor Phinney.