Ochowicz said Hermans's versatility is well-suited to the team. "We are pleased to add Ben to our roster for 2014," Ochowicz said. "He has valuable experience on multiple levels from his years in the races and will add value to the team at every turn. We welcome him to the BMC Racing Team family."

The fifth-year professional was runner-up at the Belgian national time trial championships in 2011 and 2012 and finished fifth overall at the Santos Tour Down Under in January. He placed third overall at the Tour de Wallonie in 2011, won Trofeo Inca in Spain earlier the same year and was eighth at the Amstel Gold race. In 2010, he won a stage of Ronde van België and had top 10 finishes overall at the Tour of Austria, Ronde van België and the Critérium International.

Hermans said he was both surprised and pleased to have gotten a contract offer, terms of which are not being disclosed. "It is really late in the season and I was already prepared to go pro continental level," he said. "So this is a nice surprise."

Hermans said he looks forward to gaining experience from some of the BMC Racing Team's veteran riders. "I know I can learn from a guy like Cadel Evans and there are also some very good Belgian riders, like Philippe Gilbert and Greg Van Avermaet, that I can watch and learn from," he said.