The BMC Racing Team has announced that Noel Dejonckheere has joined the team as European Operations Manager and Assistant Directeur Sportif after spending 10 years with USA Cycling. The team has been hiring key personnel with respect to riders and management for several months with the aim of launching a successful European campaign in 2010.
Recent rider signings for the team include the reigning and previous World Champions Cadel Evans and Alessandro Ballan, along with Classics riders George Hincapie, Marcus Burghardt, and Karsten Kroon. Former professional cyclist Fabio Baldato and Swiss René Savary have also recently come on board as Assistant Directeur Sportifs for the American formation.
“Noel brings a wealth of knowledge to the team from his many diverse experiences through his years in the sport. He joins the rest of our staff who are all skilled professionals in their areas of expertise. The riders can be assured that they will receive the best support available throughout the year,” team President Jim Ochowicz said.
Having enjoyed his time at USA Cycling where he worked very closely with the U23 program, Dejonckheere is pleased to be moving to a team with so many young talents. “I have been working now with USA Cycling for many years and feel like a change will add new motivation,” Dejonckheere explained. “I know Jim Ochowicz well and this is a great chance to move to a team that is growing very big very fast.”
His expertise will be missed at USA Cycling. “I am happy for Noel as he moves on to the next stage of his career,” USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson said. “With more than a decade of service to our programs, Noel has certainly helped shape the future of American cycling. With that said, we fully expect to build upon the momentum of the program and continue to prepare the next crop of great young American cyclists using the proven methods developed over the last 10 years.”
“If I look to my life, I see that I always seem to do things in 10 year blocks: I was a professional for 10 years, then I was with 7-Eleven and Motorola for 10 years, and I was with USA Cycling for 10 years,” said Dejonckheere.
“Changing like this always gives me new energy.”