Dominik Nerz has signed a two-year deal to race for the German based Bora team, which is currently known as NetApp-Endura. The 25 year old German climber will be taking on a leadership role for the team, earning his stripes after spending the last five seasons racing at the top level of the sport, with Milram, Liquigas-Cannondale and for the past two seasons, the BMC Racing Team.
Much of his career to date has been that of a domestique working for others, and accordingly he lacks great results of his own. However while the results may have been lacking, the performances have not, particularly in the Vuelta a España, having just yesterday finished 18th while working for BMC team leader Samuel Sanchez. BMC approached the 2013 Vuelta without a true GC leader and that enabled Nerz to shine, frequently going on the offensive and finishing 14th overall. He was climbing particularly well during the final week, finishing 4th on the ascent of the Formigal after being in the break, and finishing 6th on L'Angliru, one of the toughest climbs in cycling.
To take on a leadership role Nerz must continue to develop as a climber while also improving his capabilities as a time trialist, but he is delighted to be given the chance to take that next step on a German team.
“I see an enormous opportunity for myself in the new team. I’ll be given the trust to utilize my full potential, and to take on the role as a captain for the key stage races. What’s more, I’ll be able to do this in a German team. There’s something very special about being there from the very beginning with the team’s reorientation and to grow along. Germany is getting interested in cycling again, and with this team we're making the right step forward. I’m already looking forward to being part of this development.”
With Leopold Konig expected to race for a World Tour team next season, Bora team manager Ralph Denk was delighted to unveil Nerz as the teams new figurehead.
“With Dominik, we have got the dream candidate for our new team. He is Germany’s best GC rider, has his most successful years still ahead of him and he’s ready for a leadership role. This makes him perfect for what we need. With us, he’ll get a demanding racing schedule and the necessary team support to show his abilities as a captain. I am confident that Germany will soon take pride not only in its successful sprinters and time trialists, but in its GC successes as well. The goal is clear: Dominik is a candidate for the top 10 in a Grand Tour,”