Danny Pate joins Team Sky for two-year deal

Danny Pate is confirmed to join Team Sky for a two-year deal to join the British squad.

The 32-year-old said he didn’t have a shortage of offers from other teams in the wake of the closure of HTC-Highroad at the end of this season.

“I was fortunate to have a number of offers. After riding with HTC-Highroad, I wanted to stay at the highest level … and that’s why I have chosen Team Sky,” Pate said. “For the team, my work as a domestique will remain my main focus and on a personal level, I will be looking to target the world championship TTT in 2012.”

The deal will keep Pate at the highest level in Europe for another two seasons.

After riding in the 2008-09 squads for the Tour de France with Garmin, he missed out on Tour selection last year. After his move to HTC-Highroad this year, he was back at the Tour, where he helped Mark Cavendish secure the green jersey.

Cavendish’s future is still unofficial, though many expect Cavendish to join Sky. Having Pate there as part of the Manxster’s lead-out train would make sense.

Team Sky brass said they were impressed with Pate’s ability to carry a heavy work load.

“Danny is a hugely experienced rider with a fantastic pedigree,” said Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford. “We’ve seen him chasing down breakaways week-in, week-out, and have been really impressed with the way he goes about his business. He’s capable at being at the front of the peloton for long periods, day after day, and that’s a testament to the way he looks after himself on and off the bike.”