Van Garderen signs for EF Education First-Drapac

Tejay van Garderen will ride for EF Education First-Drapac in 2019, describing his impending switch from BMC Racing Team as "a necessary thing to do." The American has been a professional since 2010 and has twice finished fifth overall at the Tour de France, in 2012 and 2014.

Van Garderen has struggled to reach the same level in three-week races since he abandoned the 2015 Tour in the final week while lying third overall. The 29-year-old placed second overall at this year's Tour of California, and he began the Tour de France in support of BMC teammate Richie Porte, eventually placing 32nd overall in Paris. Van Garderen won the prologue of the Tour of Utah on Monday.

"I'm looking forward to being a part of 'America's' team," van Garderen said of his move to EF-Drapac. "I'm certainly not a young rider anymore, but I'm still way too young to be put out to pasture. I've had some good results, some ups and downs, and I'm still interested in exploring the capacity of what I have to give, however that translates. Whether it's helping a teammate or grabbing results for myself. Whether it's Grand Tours or one-week stage races. I still think there's a lot more I can offer."

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After a stint with Rabobank's development squad, van Garderen stepped up to WorldTour level with HTC-Highroad in 2010, and as a neo-professional he placed third overall at the Critérium du Dauphiné.

Van Garderen moved to BMC in 2012, placing fifth at the Tour and winning the white jersey of best young rider. A year later, he won both the Tour of California and USA Pro Cycling Challenge, and then claimed another fifth place at the Tour in 2014. In 2015, van Garderen went toe-to-toe with Chris Froome (Team Sky) at the Dauphiné, where his second place overall raised expectations for the Tour. After performing solidly in the first two weeks of the Grande Boucle, he was forced out by illness in the third week.

In recent years, van Garderen found himself playing second fiddle to Porte at BMC. A tilt at the Giro d'Italia in 2017 proved a disappointment, though van Garderen showed resolve to claim a stage win in the final week before going on to place 10th overall at the Vuelta a España. 

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