Bahrain Merida has confirmed the signing of Slovenian Janez Brajkovic, who will help Vincenzo Nibali to win the Giro d’Italia in 2017.
Brajkovic won the U23 Time Trial World Championships in 2004 and since joining the professional ranks in 2005 he has ridden for Discovery Channel, Astana, RadioShack and UnitedHealthcare.
“This is a unique opportunity for me – to ride again in the highest class. I am determined to prove that I still belong in the professional cycling and I’m very motivated and also optimistic about the next season. My priority now is to give 100 % to the team, help Nibali and other team mates and also prove to myself that I am still capable of good results.”, Brajkovic said.
The Slovenian rider finished 5th in both the Tour de Suisse and the Volta a Catalunya in 2006 and won the Tour of Georgia for his first win as a professional. In 2008 he was 2nd at Giro di Lombardia, 3rd overall in Deutschland Tour and the following year, he was 2nd overall at Giro del Trentino.
He moved to Radioshack in 2010, and he finished first overall at the Criterium du Dauphine that season. He subsequently moved back to Astana, before signing for United Healthcare for the 2015 season where he finished 4th Overall at the Abu Dhabi Tour and 5th Overall at the Tour of the Gila.
