The BMC Racing Team announced the signing Wednesday of American Peter Stetina, a climbing specialist and second-generation cycling professional.
Top Support Rider In The Mountains
The 26-year-old finished third at GP Miguel Indurain in March and had two top 10 finishes on mountain stages at the Volta a Catalunya the same month. He won two Under 23 U.S. national time trial championships (2008, 2009) and was part of the winning team time trial squads last year for Garmin-Sharp at the Giro d’Italia and Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. “Pete comes from a family of past and present cyclists and brings with him a nice balance of experience in the many stage races and grand tours that he has participated in over the years,” said BMC Racing Team President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz. “He has acted as a top support rider in the mountain stages where his teams have found success. We expect the same here at the BMC Racing Team and are eager to start our work together.” Stetina’s father, Dale, is a past U.S. national road and time trial champion (1980) and Olympian (1976, 1980) and two-time winner of the Coors Classic (1979, 1983).
Many Ties To The Team
Stetina said a number of factors attracted him to the BMC Racing Team, which has its headquarters in Santa Rosa, Calif., where he lives. “BMC is notorious for having the top equipment and the team for its top support, plus it was a chance to reunite with my good friends, Taylor Phinney and Tejay van Garderen,” he said. “I also worked a lot with (BMC Racing Team Performance Manager) Allan Peiper last year and I really respect him. He was a big draw in coming. All the stars aligned, really.” Stetina, a past winner of the Mount Evans Hill Climb, said he looks forward to using his climbing ability to contribute in races large and small. “I would really like to take my own chance in some smaller, one-week stage races,” he said. “So I would champion my own cause in those races and be a top mountain domestique in the biggest ones, especially the Tour de France. I would really like to ride the Tour next year for the first time.” Ochowicz said specific terms of Stetina’s contract are not being released.
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