The BMC Pro Triathlon Team have announced their roster for next year, which promises to be one of the most exciting seasons of long course triathlon racing yet, as several new athletes join the squad.
Whilst some of the team’s veteran members, such as Pablo Dapena Gonzalez and Patrik Nilsson will be leaving in January, a number of high-profile young stars will be joining the squad, which enters its 11th season in 2024.
Similarly to last year, where Chelsea Sodaro left after the biggest win of her career in Kona, PTO Tour European Open winner Max Neumann departs, seven months after the Australian provided one of shocks of the season in Ibiza.
British flavour added to the mix
Joining Britain’s Lucy Buckingham who will enter her second season with the team in 2024 will be fellow British stars Lucy Byram and Samuel Dickinson, both of whom Team Manager Bob de Wolf expects to see make a real impact in the middle distance scene next season.
He said: “Lucy Byram is a real gem. She has been making waves in the early part of the 2023 season with back-to-back wins at Clash Miami and Challenge Puerto Varas, adding a further win at Challenge Wales.
“Her real breakthrough performance came at the PTO US Open where she mixed it up with the very best in the world to take a fourth place finish. In our opinion a star in the making and someone who will compete with the very best in the world moving forward.”
Dickinson was also a highly anticipated signing for the team as well says de Wolf, with the Yorkshireman focusing on qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games over the first half of the season before aiming to race well at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in December.
“Sam has his sights set on a move to long distance in the future. At his first ever half distance event he finished second at IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain. Sam targets a podium at the European and World Ironman 70.3 Championships next season, an ambition we fully believe Sam can realize. We feel very confident Sam has the talent and we the support and structure to allow him that successful transition to the long distance.”
Mignon dreaming big with BMC backing
The third and final new addition to the 2024 BMC Pro Triathlon Team roster is Frenchman Clément Mignon, who de Wolf says is eyeing up a podium in Kona after winning the World Triathlon Long Distance World Championships this season.
“We are incredibly proud and excited to work with such a line-up of talent next season. Clément was Top 10 on his Kona debut last year, won the World Triathlon Long Distance World Championship in Ibiza this season, won Ironman Nice and finished 10th at the most recent IRONMAN World Championship in Nice. We are convinced, at the age of 24, that Clément is an incredible talent and a real contender for a Kona podium next year.”
According to the man himself, making it onto the BMC roster is a dream come true, with Mignon confident that the added support of being part of the team will help him make the jump from placing in the Top 10 in Kona to placing on the podium.
“I am looking forward to join the BMC team for 2024 to be more professional as triathlete. Since I have started in triathlon, it has always been a goal to at some point be able to join the BMC Pro Triathlon Team to help me increase my level. For next season my big goal is a Top 3 in Kona. I am really excited to embark on this journey and would like to thank the team for the trust and opportunity.”
“Thank you for the memories”
For Gonzalez, Nilsson and Neumann, departing the BMC Team after a number of great years is bittersweet. Nilsson, who has spent seven years with the team, looked back on his time fondly.
“As I bid farewell to the BMC Pro Triathlon Team after seven incredible years, I am filled with gratitude for the unwavering support of both the team and its sponsors. The countless miles, victories, and challenges we conquered together have left an indelible mark on my journey as a professional triathlete.
“My personal highlights are my 8th place finish on my Kona debut, a full podium sweep in Frankfurt with a 3rd place in 2017 a 2nd in 2018 and the title in 2021 and my victory at the Ironman American Championship in Texas. Thank you for the memories, the camaraderie, and the shared pursuit of excellence. Here’s to the next chapter, filled with new adventures and continued success for us all.”
For Neumann, who finishes the season with a first PTO Tour win under his belt after four action packed years with BMC, the time he spent with the squad is one he will forever be grateful for, with some highlights including a memorable Kona in 2022.
“After 4 great years, I am saying goodbye to the BMC Pro Triathlon Team. It was a time in my career I will be forever be grateful for and a team that really suited the way I do things. I would just like to say a massive thanks to all the staff, sponsors and fellow teammates for a very memorable experience over the last few years.
“Some of the highlights for me on the team were seeing my teammate Chelsea winning Kona in 2022, my victory at the PTO European Open earlier this year and the various team training camps we had together.”
In 2024, the squad will consist of Lucy Buckingham (GBR), Lucy Byram (GBR), Sam Dickinson (GBR), Kristian Høgenhaug (DEN), Chris Leiferman (USA), Thor Bendix Madsen (DEN), Clément Mignon (FRA).
