Team Sky (UK) – Team Sky announced the signing of British Under-23 Road Race Champion Chris Lawless. The 21 year old represents another of cycling’s top under-23 talents and arrives hot on the heels of fellow Tour de l’Avenir stage winners Egan Bernal, Pavel Sivakov and Kristoffer Halvorsen, who will all ride for Team Sky from next season.

Lawless’ victory on stage four of L’Avenir was another high point in an impressive season that has seen him win the ZLM Tour outright, in addition to podium finishes at both Velothon Wales and a highly selective British national championship road race.

Coming on the eve of this year’s Tour of Britain, the signing of Lawless further represents Team Sky’s commitment to home grown talent, joining the likes of Jon Dibben, Owain Doull and Tao Geoghegan Hart on a talented roster of young British riders.

Doull and Geoghegan Hart, both former Under-23 National Road Race Champions (in 2015 and 2016), will both line up for Team Sky in Edinburgh for this year’s Tour of Britain.

Chris Lawless said: “One of my main reasons for joining Team Sky is that I feel it’s going to be the best place for me to develop as a rider.

“I’ve had a good 2017 so far. The overall win at the ZLM Tour and the stage win at Tour de l’Avenir were both really big wins for me. I was happy with the way I won them. It’s not how I usually win races. I attacked instead of waiting for the sprint which I think showed I can do more than just finish quickly.

“The other highlight was obviously the British Nationals and winning the under-23 jersey. I was happy to be able to compete with the other WorldTour guys there and I was still able to attack and show my pace at the end.

“I want to improve in every area. I’m hoping to become a more all-round bike rider and Team Sky is going to be the best place for me to do that. I’m really looking forward to getting started with Team Sky.”