By Daniel Friebe, Procycling Magazine
The reigning Canadian national road race champion Christian Meier has confirmed that he will be riding for the Garmin-Chipotle team for the next two seasons. After pulling out of the world road race championships at the 210km mark on Sunday, Meier revealed that he has signed for Garmin on a permanent basis. He will thus join his friend and compatriot Svein Tuft, who committed to the US-based team after his second-place in the men's time trial on Thursday.
Meier has been riding for Garmin as a stagiaire since August, impressing the team's directeurs sportif at the Tour of Portugal, in particular. He describes himself as competent all-rounder most at home on the short, often steep climbs typically found in the Ardennes Classics. The 23 year-old from New Brunswick made history this year by becoming the first ever rider from Atlantic Canada to claim the Maple Leaf jersey of national champion.
"I'm pretty excited about it, and about joining the team with Svein. Now I have the Circuit Franco-Belge, maybe Paris-Tours, Giro del Piemonte and the Tour of Lombardy, but I can't wait for next season," Meier said in Varese on Sunday.
The November issue of Procycling Magazine will feature an interview with Meier about his experience riding as a stagiaire for Garmin.
