Wednesday 1 October 2014 10:14, UK
Team Sky have bolstered their climbing ranks by announcing Leopold König, Wout Poels and Irishman Nicolas Roche as three of five new signings.
The British squad have also recruited Lars Petter Nordhaug and Scottish sprinter Andy Fenn in a significant recruitment drive for the 2015 season.
König, who finished seventh at this year’s Tour de France, will join from NetApp-Endura, while Roche, fifth at the Tour of Britain, will move from Tinkoff-Saxo.
Poels and Fenn will both join from Omega Pharma – Quick-Step, while Nordhaug is set to return for a second stint at Team Sky after two years with Belkin.
All of the moves will be made on January 1.
Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: "We have signed five quality riders for next season and each one of them will help strengthen and enhance the squad.
"We have always set our standards high and been very ambitious with our goals. We want to win the biggest races and constantly improve as a team and these new riders have the proven experience and developing talent to perform now and in the future.
"We have a strong nucleus of riders at Team Sky and these signings will be excellent additions to the squad. They all bring their own qualities and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to the team and seeing them in action next season."
Roche, who joins fellow Irishman Philip Deignan at Team Sky, is hopeful he can continue his development at the two-time Tour de France-winning squad.
"It’s a great honour to sign for Team Sky and I have the opportunity to ride with some of the best riders in the world," he said. "I feel that I’m still developing as a rider so now’s the perfect time to join Team Sky and to continue my upwards path. I’m confident that under the guidance of Sir Dave Brailsford and the team, I will continue to improve."
König enjoyed stage wins at the Vuelta a Espana and Tour of California ahead of this year's impressive Tour finish. He said: "I have always had a huge amount of respect for Team Sky, so to be joining them is a real honour for me.
"It fills me with huge excitement to know that I will be working with some of the best support staff in the world and riding alongside such a talented group of riders. Next season I want to focus on improving my stage racing abilities and pay back their trust in me by helping win races."
