Team Sky have added two young British riders to their squad for 2017, as Tao Geoghegan Hart and Owain Doull make their move into racing at WorldTour level.
Geoghegan Hart, 21, joins from Continental outfit Axeon Hagens Berman and is no stranger to the team, having raced in Team Sky colours as a stagiaire in 2015 at the Giro del Piemonte and Japan Cup.
The British U23 national road race champion has enjoyed a strong 2016 season, winning the Trofeo Piva and finishing 12th at the Tour of California and Tour of Utah, and he will now make the step up to the WorldTour for the 2017 campaign.
"It's super exciting for me," said Geoghegan Hart. "There are guys here who have come through a similar path to me and also have a background on the track. I was on British Cycling's programme up until the age of 18 when I went to Axeon, so these are riders that I have looked up to for a very long time. To be team-mates with them is very exciting, and hopefully it will make the step up into being a WorldTour rider a little bit easier.
The London-born rider attended the Team Sky launch event in January 2010, aged just 14, and he has fond memories of that day.
"I remember riding behind those guys and dreaming, just being in absolute awe. It's not dissimilar to that now, dreaming to be on Team Sky, and I still look up to those guys.
"I guess you never know, but maybe it was small moments like that when I was young that inspired me to go out there, ride my bike every day, and brought me to the path I find myself on years later."
Joining Geoghegan Hart in the Sky ranks will be young British star Owain Doull.
The Welshman will join the team for the remainder of the 2016 season as a stagiaire, tackling select races before turning pro full time on the road in 2017.
The 23-year-old is fresh from a rousing gold medal ride in Rio with the Great Britain team pursuit squad, and will now be looking to carry that momentum onto the road.
Doull achieved a breakthrough result last year while riding for the Wiggins team, claiming third place overall in front of a home crowd at the Tour of Britain.
Like Geoghegan Hart, Doull found early inspiration from his new team.
"When Team Sky formed in 2010 I was 16 years old and I'd just started racing properly as a junior," the Welshman explains.
"It's always been a bit of a boyhood dream to try and join Sky. So to finally be at a stage where I'm about to start racing for the team, and then joining the team properly in 2017, is a bit surreal.
"I've ridden against Sky at some of the bigger races like the Tour of Britain for team Wiggins. To see how they operate is pretty special. I've also been watching as a fan how the team race, tuning into events like the Tour and seeing how the riders go about that. It's something that's incredible to watch, and the way they approach big targets with all the preparation towards it - it's the next level."
Team Sky Team Principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: "Owain has consistently put in excellent performances on the track and the road and we think he has the potential to be an important part of the team.
"From a personal perspective it's always great to be bringing young British talent into Team Sky and it reflects very well on the investment and support Sky has provided through the British Cycling programme, the Wiggins team and, of course, Team Sky."
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