After four years with Team Sky, Danny Pate decided to change of scenery. The American rider signed with Optum Pro Cycling, a US Continental team. Interviewed by Cyclingnews, Optum performance director Jonas Carney explained how he hired Pate.

"Danny sent me a message from Europe and we followed up on the phone. We've been friends since our first year on Prime Alliance in 2001 and we stay in touch, so it was pretty easy to connect. We both needed a little convincing, but after a couple of phone conversations it seemed like a really good fit", Carney told. 

Pate is one of the six riders who will leave Team Sky at the end of this season (Nathan Earle, Bernhard Eisel, Richie Porte, Kanstantsin Siutsou and Chris Sutton).

Carney added that Pate deserves to have the leadership. "We would love to see Danny win some races. He is very capable and it would be cool to see him seize some opportunities after so many years of working for others. He will definitely have those opportunities. However, we would also like him to take a leadership role. Danny comes to us with a wealth of experience and we have other riders who can win a lot more with Danny's help."