Sky signs Tour of Britain winner Tiernan-Locke
The British team signs one of its own in Tour of Britain overall winner Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
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LONDON (AFP) — Sky announced on Thursday that the team had completed the signing of Tour of Britain winner Jonathan Tiernan-Locke for the 2013 and 2014 seasons after a breakthrough year in the colors of Continental squad Endura Racing.
The 27-year-old climber’s two-year deal with the team of Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins comes on the back of a memorable 2012 that also saw him earn the role of leader in the Great Britain squad for the road race at the world championships in September. He had already won two stages en route to overall victory in the Tour de Mediterranean, which was followed by success at the Tour du Haut Var.
In July, he won two stages on the way to an overall win at the Tour Alsace and rounded off his summer with the Tour of Britain victory last month.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for me to step up from the UCI Continental ranks, and although I’ve really enjoyed my time at Endura, I couldn’t pass up the chance to join the world’s best team,” Tiernan-Locke said. “When you look at the season Team Sky have had, to be even considered by them was a massive honor for me, so I’m over the moon to be riding for them in 2013.”
Tiernan-Locke joins Americans Ian Boswell and Joe Dombrowski as neo-pros announced by Sky this week.