George Hincapie, newly crowned US Pro Road Champion, will be making the jump to America’s BMC Racing Team for 2010, according to Road Magazine.
Hincapie, 36, will leave Columbia-HTC to be re-united with Jim Ochowicz, founder of the Motorola Cycling Team, his first pro team.
Despite having been linked to Lance Armstrong’s Team RadioShack, Hincapie has chosen the smaller American team, saying “I kind of like being in a role of helping younger riders and help a team that is not one of the best in the world, but to become one of the best in the world.”
Big George will also be able to promote his family clothing line, Hincapie Sportswear, “They are going to use our clothing which is a big thing for our company. It was also a family decision and wasn’t just about me.”
BMC Racing Team, a UCI Pro-continental Team, will be chasing wild card invitations, but is expected to race a strong program in Europe, highlighted by the cobbled classics and a possible start in a grand tour. The team will be looking to strengthen its roster with names such as Alessandro Ballan, Karsten Kroon, and Marcus Burghardt.