Less than a week after finishing second behind Fabian Cancellara in the Swiss TT championships, Stefan Küng has signed a multi-year contract with the BMC Racing Team. The Swiss will turn professional in January and hopes to ride Paris-Roubaix and the Tour de Suisse in his debut season.

Stefan Küng of the BMC Development Team has signed a multi-year contract with the BMC Racing Team, President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz announced Tuesday. Küng was runner-up to Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) in the Swiss professional men's time trial last week and won the men's elite road race on Sunday ahead of BMC Development teammates Tom Bohli and Arnaud Grand while finishing seventh among the professionals.

The 20-year-old also counts among his victories this year the overall title and one stage win at the Tour de Normandie in March and Flèche Ardennaise last month.

"This is an important signing for the future of the BMC Racing Team," Ochowicz said. "It confirms once again that our BMC Development Team is working, as we graduate another athlete to the professional team. Stefan is the perfect all-around rider who has demonstrated a high level of performance in a number of areas, both on the road and on track."

Küng will join the BMC Racing Team in January, Ochowicz said, and continue competing for the BMC Development Team through the end of this season.



Küng said signing as a professional completes a childhood dream.

"I had a special moment last Wednesday when I saw that I am not far away from some of the world's best," he said. "Fabian may not have been in his best condition, but he is still a big champion and is always competitive. When I performed this result, I knew this was the right step to make."

Küng said he already has some goals in mind for his first professional season.

"I want to find my rhythm and start well and perform well," he said. "I would also like to get in Paris-Roubaix and get selected for the Tour de Suisse. So I will be working hard to get selected for those races and then try to perform very well."



In addition to his proficiency on the road, Küng has proven to be equally as adept on the track. He was the silver medalist in the men's individual pursuit at the UCI track world championships in February and won the bronze medal (with Théry Schir) in the madison.

Last year, he won Swiss and European Under 23 titles in the individual pursuit, was part of the winning Under 23 team pursuit squad at the European championships, and earned the bronze medal in the individual pursuit at the world championships.

Specific terms of Küng's contract are not being revealed, per BMC Racing Team policy.