After two years with Team Sky, the Grand Tour specialist from the Czech Republic, Leopold König, has signed a contract with BORA – hansgrohe.

His record together with the team from Raubling which will be named BORA – hansgrohe from 2017 onwards, is impressive: he was 7th in the Tour de France (2014) and 9th in the 2013 Vuelta a España where he took a stage win. With Team Sky he finished 6th in the 2015 Giro. Next season König, who signed a three-year agreement, will be the team’s leader for the 2017 Tour de France starting with its Grand Départ in Düsseldorf, Germany.

“It was Enrico Poitschke and Ralph Denk who picked me up from a small continental team and gave me the chance to race the biggest races in the world and to progress as a rider. So when I heard about their new project and ambitions I felt like coming back home where it all started. I've learned a lot the last two years with Team Sky and I'm extremely grateful for this experience. Now I'm ready to give my best in the coming years and chase our ambitious goals," said König

“I am very happy that Leo is coming back to our team BORA – hansgrohe. I feel honoured, because it is a big evidence of trust to make that move coming from Team Sky, and even 2016 was not his best season he still is one of a few riders that has the potential to finish a Grand Tour on the podium. We onc developed Leo from amateur level to a top ten Tour de France rider, now we look forward to learning from his experience from the last years," said Ralph Denk, Team Manager

“Two years ago we tried hard to keep Leo in the team. It didn’t work out, and I was a bit disappointed to be honest. Now I know we could never have won that poker game back then. When Ralph informed me, that he managed to sign Leo again for the coming years, I was more than happy. Great to have him back," added Willi Bruckbauer, owner BORA.