Tejay van Garderen, the winner of best young rider honors at this year’s Tour de France, has extended his contract with the BMC Racing Team, President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz announced Thursday.
Future Team Captain
In addition to a fifth place finish overall at the Tour de France, Van Garderen won a stage of the USA Pro Challenge in Colorado in August and was second overall. He was runner-up at the USA Cycling national time trial championships in May and fourth in the world time trial championship last month. A London Olympian for the United States, he also earned a silver medal with the BMC Racing Team at the world time trial championships. Ochowicz said following that flurry of success, offering a contract extension was an important move. “Tejay is the future captain of the BMC Racing Team and he plays a huge role in the organization,” Ochowicz said. “He already has a leadership role in the team and will remain a great teammate for Cadel Evans at next year’s Tour de France.”
Aiming For The Overall
Van Garderen said he has some unfinished business to attend to next season. In addition to his second place overall at the USA Pro Challenge, the Boulder, Colo., resident finished fourth at the Amgen Tour of California and fifth at Paris-Nice. “But one goal I didn’t reach was to win the general classification at a stage race,” he said. “But I did come close a couple times. And my fifth place at the Tour de France was definitely the highlight of my year.” Extension of his contract the specifics of which are not being made public comes at a perfect time, he said. “It definitely makes me able to focus on what’s important, now that I know I’m secure for a few more years,” he said. “My offseason has been really relaxing and I’ve been able to spend some quality time with my wife, Jessica, and our new puppy, Manzo.”
BMC Racing Team Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said van Garderen showed his long-term potential in his first season with the team. “He was very regular for us all year very good in time trials and climbing and someone who could also find his place in the peloton,” he said. “So he has all the qualities to become a big tour winner in the future. That’s important for us. We’re already building a team around him.” Lelangue said van Garderen will have plenty of opportunities to show himself in 2013.
