Steve Cummings has announced his departure from Team Sky at the end of the season to join BMC Racing.
- Steve Cummings (left) won silver behind Alex Dowsett at the British Time Trial Championships
Cummings becomes BMC’s seventh summer signing and will team up with Tour de France winner Cadel Evans, 2012 world champion Thor Hushovd and world number one Philippe Gilbert.
And it is the calibre of BMC’s squad that convinced the 30-year-old Cummings to become the first British rider to leave Team Sky.
“Their entire program really has the whole package,” he said. “They’ve just won the Tour de France, and the riders they’ve signed have the chance to win almost any race.”
Cummings signed for Team Sky ahead of their debut season in 2010, having previously ridden for Landbouwkrediet, Discovery Channel and Barloworld, and completed his first Tour de France in the same season.
The Merseysider enjoyed a strong start to 2011, claiming the scalp of Alberto Contador to win a stage of the Volta ao Algarve but saw his season derailed by after being diagnosed with pneumonia in April.
But Cummings returned to enjoy a string of fine late-season results, including second overall in the Tour of Britain, where he was only named in Sky’s squad as a late replacement for Pete Kennaugh, before helping Mark Cavendish to World Championship gold.
And while Cummings will work for the likes of Evans, Hushovd and Gilbert at BMC, the 2004 Olympic team pursuit silver medallist insists he will grab opportunities to earn results of his own with both hands.
“I want to work as hard as possible for the team and make the most of any opportunities that come my way,” said Cummings. “If I can do that, then I’m happy.”
BMC boss Jim Ochowicz added: “Steve is an accomplished time trialist – both in the individual and the team version – in addition to being a good climber We expect him to be a great help to the team in the Grand Tours and other stage races throughout the season.”
