Having played a key role as a support rider in the classics and stage races, Ben Hermans has impressed in his first season as a BMC rider. The Belgian has now extended his contract with the American team.

Ben Hermans has received a contract extension after playing an integral role in his first season with the BMC Racing Team, President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz announced Tuesday.

"We are very pleased to be extending the contract with Ben into the future," Ochowicz said. "He has played a significant role this entire year covering all the bases on every level. His skills are many, but his greatest asset is his complete sacrifice for his teammates. We can always count on him."

In August, Hermans helped teammate Tejay van Garderen repeat as winner at the USA Pro Challenge and played a key role in the BMC Racing Team's victory in the team classification while finishing ninth overall himself. At the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, he was runner-up on the Stage 4 finish at Powder Mountain on the way to a team-best fourth place overall finish. Earlier in the season, he was part of wins at the Amstel Gold Race (by Philippe Gilbert) and the Tour Méditerranéen (by Stephen Cummings).

"This year, I did a lot of work for the team's leaders until the Tour of Austria and then Utah, where I got some chances for myself," Hermans said. "Next year, I would like to get some more chances earlier in the year. But it is not so easy when you have a team of so many big leaders. But I want to be there more in the final of races and in the earlier part of the season."

Specific terms of Hermans's contract extension were not announced.