BMC manager Jim Ochowicz says Richie Porte's arrival will not halt Tejay Van Garderen's emerging role

Australian cyclist Richie Porte’s move to BMC Racing will add a wealth of experience to the cycling team, and set the stage for what could be a highly successful partnership with America’s Tejay Van Garderen. However, the Aussie’s arrival at BMC has also raised doubts about whether Porte would veto Van Garderen’s emerging role.

BMC manager Jim Ochowicz admitted the team brought Porte because they needed a pure sprinter. However, the 63-year-old manager confirmed that Porte is supposed to complement and not overshadow Van Garderen’s spot in BMC.

“Richie is a really great athlete, he’s a good team player, and he’s someone who can work with Tejay, and on his own leadership. One person cannot cover all the GC races of the season,” Ochowicz told Velo News.

Ochowicz also said he has confidence in having Van Garderen as BMC’s team leader and revealed they have been talking about Porte’s role in BMC since April. With Porte now part of BMC, the American manager is confident that the team will have strong captains in nearly every stage of racing competitions.

“We will make decisions based on the routes, and which races best suit the riders. Richie is already a proven winner,” Ochowicz added.

As soon as the transfer market officially opened, Porte joined BMC Racing on a one-year deal. Porte initially confirmed he would leave Team Sky at the end of this season to pursue grand tour success. Ochowicz said Porte’s arrival gives BMC the chance to separate and unite the team’s strategies and goals as they fit throughout the season, reports The Guardian.

Porte spent four seasons with Team Sky as one of the best super-domestiques, helping Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome win three yellow jerseys. The two time Paris-Nice winner had been linked with Etixx-QuickStep and Orica-GreenEdge, before completing a deal with BMC.

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