Norwegian champion Kurt-Asle Arvesen will race next season for the new British cycling Team Sky.
The 34-year-old, who has been with the Danish team headed by Bjarne Riis since 2004, will be rejoining with Sky’s director Scott Sunderland who worked for Riis as a director sportif until 2008. The pair also raced together with team Fakta, before Sunderland retired from racing.
Arvesen, who pulled out of this year’s Tour de France following a bad crash, won a stage in the 2008 edition. He was a key captain on the road for Riis’ Saxo Bank team, and will bring a weath of experience to the new British squad.
“Kurt has been a very central figure on the team and the other riders have felt comfortable in his company and he is been the go-to-guy in both good times and bad. He has been the riders’ spokesman and often played a key figure between the riders and sports director on the road. A role and a status not visible on the TV-screen but it has had an inestimable impact on the team spirit and the general communication on the team. I wish him good luck and all the best in the future where he undoubtedly will be missed”, Saxo Bank’s director Kim Andersen explained.
Arvesen admitted the move wasn’t an easy choice, but saw the need for a fresh challenge in the sport. “I’ve had my best years on the world’s best cycling team, Team Saxo Bank and I now have to say goodbye to some of my best friends which I hope they will continue to be.
“This is a challenge I give to myself and I just hope that there is something good in store for me on Team Sky where I probably would have a similar role to what I had on Team Saxo Bank.”
” A big thank you goes out to all who have supported me through my career and especially thanks to Kim and Bjarne,” added Arvesen.