Milan-San Remo winner Matt Goss is relishing the opportunity to ride as a team leader after signing for GreenEdge.
Goss has largely played second fiddle to Mark Cavendish in his two years at HTC-Highroad, forming a key part of the Tour de France green jersey winner’s sprint train.
But having joined new Australian outfit GreenEdge ahead of the 2012 season, Tasmanian-born Goss is targetting an assault on the Spring Classics.
“From the start GreenEdge has stated that they want to be successful in the Classics and go to the stage races targetting stage wins and that’s perfect for me,” said 24-year-old Goss.
“I’d like to back that up with another great Milan San Remo and learn from Baden Cooke and [2007 Paris-Roubaix winner] Stuart O’Grady at the cobblestoned Classics because they have so much experience in those races.”
Goss added: “There’s going to be more pressure as a team leader but I work well with pressure. It’s not as if I’ve come from riding down the back of the bunch to all of a sudden being the protected rider.”
Meanwhile, BMC, who have already signed Philippe Gilbert and Thor Hushovd, have continued their summer spending spree with the acquisition of Marco Pinotti and Tejay Van Garderen.
The 23-year-old Van Garderen, who briefly wore the King of the Mountains jersey at his first Tour de France in July, will provide key support to Cadel Evans when he defends his title – as well learning from the Australian in order to become a Grand Tour contender himself.
“Tejay is a gifted young talent with a complete set of skills that will allow him to one day be a contender in the Grand Tours,” said BMC general manager Jim Ochowicz said. “His time trialing continues to improve, as is his climbing. With Cadel acting as his mentor, the road to success should come quickly.”
Two British Cycling Academy products, Luke Rowe and Andy Fenn, have secured WorldTour contracts for 2012 signing for Team Sky and Omega Pharma-Quick Step respectively. Italian prospect Salvatore Puccio has also joined Sky.
“As a British rider, signing for Team Sky is a dream come true and I am very excited about what the next two seasons hold,” said Rowe.
“I already know a lot of the guys in the team so I shouldn’t have any problems settling in. I’ve spoken to Peter Kennaugh and Ben Swift, and they only have good things to say about how the team is run and the way they treat their riders.”
Finally, British rider Charlie Wegelius has announce that he will retire after this week’s Giro di Padania in Italy.
Wegelius never recorded an individual professional victory but forged a career as a strong and reliable domestique, riding ten Grand Tours for De Nardi, Liquigas and Silence-Lotto.
“During my career I did what I could as a rider, always trying to give my best for my team and my teammates. I think my work was appreciated and made a difference, especially in races like the Giro d’Italia,” said Wegelius, who rode for UnitedHealthCare this season.
“One of the my proudest moments in that sense came at the 2006 Giro when I read in Gazzetta dello Sport that Eddy Merckx said his son Axel would have won the previous day’s stage to Peschici if he’d had a teammate like me to help him. It was nice to hear such praise from some one like Merckx.”
