U23 British national road race champion Tao Geoghegan Hart is the latest new signing announced by Team Sky. The 21 year-old 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.
Geoghegan Hart 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.
In addition, he also finished 6th overall at both the Volta ao Alentejo (2.2) and Silver City’s Tour of the Gila (2.2) and 2nd overall at the Tour de Savoie Mont Blanc (2.2).
“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.
“This season was about getting another year stronger, becoming more consistent, and developing as a rider and as a person, before making the big step up from a Continental team to a WorldTour team. I’m 21 now, so I think this is the ideal time to be stepping up into a big team. I’m super, super excited.
Team Principal of Sky Dave Brailsford is excited about the signing and the improvements Geoghegan Hart has made this season.
“We’ve been following Tao for a long time now and obviously had him with us as a stagiaire at the end of last year,” said Brailsford. “He’s continued to show real progress this season and we’re delighted he’ll be taking the next steps in his career with Team Sky. Tao is another exciting addition to the group of young, talented British riders we have at Team Sky.”
