Pierre Rolland to ride for Cannondale-Garmin in 2016
Joining Canada's Michael Woods, who recently announced his move over to Cannondale-Garmin next season, French rider Pierre Rolland will also join the team's ranks starting in 2016.
Joining Canada’s Michael Woods, who recently announced his move over to Cannondale-Garmin next season, French rider Pierre Rolland will also join the team’s ranks starting in 2016.
The news continues the ongoing shake-up that marks the end of summer, with riders swapping one roster for another. Just yesterday, Canadian powerhouse Ryder Hesjedal announced his departure from Cannondale-Garmin, as he prepares to suit up for Trek Factory Racing next season. For Rolland, making the move over to Hesjedal’s soon-to-be-former team is a career high point.
“I am very honoured by the trust placed in me by Cannondale-Garmin,” Rolland said, “and am determined to ride well for them. This is truly a great opportunity for me, and I am very excited for 2016.”
A striking similarity between Woods and Rolland, of course, is the climbing strength boasted by both riders — someth>ing that has contributed notably to the French rider’s list of achievements. Top-ten finishes defined his 2011, 2012 and 2015 seasons, with stage wins in the 2011 Alp d’Huez and the 2012 La Toussuire. At 2011’s Tour de France, Rolland was also distinguished as Best Young Rider, and just this year, won 4th overall at the Giro d’Italia.
Like Woods, who Slipstream Sports and Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling CEO Jonathan Vaughters sees becoming one of the best, Rolland, too, is potentially one of the greats to the team principal.
To Vaughters, Rolland bears the characteristics that made the late Thierry Claveyrolat, 1990’s King of the Mountain at the Tour de France among other accolades, such a distinguished riders. His riding style, in particularly, demonstrates it. “Pierre is a rider that shows determination, style and panache year after year,” Vaughters said. “He rides in the style of big gear, head up and always attacking. That style is something I respect and admire about Pierre.” It’s also, Vaughters added, precisely what can one day earn him the Polka Dot jersey, too — as Claveyrolat did twenty-five years ago.
Looking ahead to 2016’s big picture, Vaughters is confident, with two powerhouse climbers wearing Garmin-Cannondale colours next season.”We have an exceptionally talented roster of young riders. What we need to continue to build is leadership for the young guys by giving them experienced riders that they can learn from to better harness their own talents
“Rolland,” he said, “brings that in spades.”
As Rolland moves on, though, the team he leaves behind, Europcar, has yet to secure sponsorship for the coming season. A months-long search for sponsorship by the French team’s manager, Jeane-Rene Berneaudeau, has yielded no potential backers thus far. While the Europcar principal is confident the show will go on for his team, a worst-case scenario, of course, means Canadian riders like Antoine Duchesne could be out of work.
