Five of the eight BMC Racing Team riders who lined up at Driedaagse de Panne-Koksijde were graduates of BMC Development Team, BMC Racing Team highlighted today.

 

BMC Racing Team General Manager and creator of BMC Development Team, Jim Ochowicz said it is a testament to the success of the program in preparing the next generation of young cyclists for the professional ranks.

 

"When you see that five of the eight riders who raced in Belgium this week have stepped up from BMC Development Team in the past two years, it speaks for itself," Ochowicz said.

 

"It's a confirmation of the long-term commitment that Andy Rihs and I have to the organization in that BMC Development Team is our feeder system for the WorldTour team. It is a concept that we started four years ago and the results of this commitment are well and truly evident."

 

"We're extremely happy with the contribution that BMC Development Team is making to BMC Racing Team and we want to continue to use the program in the same light that we have since it's inception. Not only are these riders fulfilling our domestique roles, but they're winning races too."

 

The most recent graduate from BMC Development Team to BMC Racing Team and winner of the 2016 Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen prologue, Tom Bohli, said he eased into life in the professional ranks for the 2016 season.

 

"I felt really prepared when I made the transition to BMC Racing Team. Obviously there are certain things that I'm only going to learn as I race more and more, but in terms of understanding the system, the way the team operates and learning all of the crucial aspects of racing, I feel BMC Development Team was an excellent place to start," Bohli said.

 

"To line up alongside other guys who I raced with in BMC Development Team is also a nice feeling."

 

Current members of BMC Racing Team who made the transition from BMC Development Team are: Tom Bohli, Silvan Dillier, Floris Gerts, Stefan Küng, Dylan Teuns and Loïc Vliegen.

 

 

Tom Bohli:          2016 Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, Prologue: Winner

 

Silvan Diller:       2015 UCI World Championships TTT: Winner

     2015 Swiss National Time Trial Champion

                             2015 Artic Race of Norway, Stage 4: Winner

                             2015 Artic Race of Norway, GC: Second

     2014 UCI World Championships TTT: Winner

     2014 GP Kanton Aargau: Second

     2014 Tour de Wallonie, GC: Second

 

Stefan Küng:       2015 UCI World Championships TTT: Winner

     2015 Tour de Romandie, Stage 4: Winner

     2015 Volta Limburg Classics: Winner

 

Dylan Teuns:       2015 Critérium du Dauphiné, TTT: Winner

                             2015 Volta Limburg Classic: Third