Team Sky has announced the signing of neo-pro Josh Edmondson for the next two years, after an impressive season from the 20-year-old British rider. The Yorkshireman has spent the last two years racing in Italy, with Team Colpack, taking a number of promising results, but really came to prominence when he joined up with the Great Britain Academy towards the end of the season.
An aggressive performance in the Tour of Britain, which he rode as part of the Great Britain team, got him noticed and - with the confirmed departure of Michael Rogers to Saxo-Tinkoff earlier this month - he becomes the British ProTeam’s 27th rider for next year.
“I’m really excited to be joining Team Sky, and to be taking this next step in my career,” said Edmondson. “It’s an amazing set up and a huge project. Meeting the team you can see that it is one big unit and that the support you get - with the best coaches and nutritionists in the world - is second to none.”
Edmondson finished tenth overall in the mountainous under-23 Giro della Valle d’Aosta Mont Blanc in July, and it was the hiller stages in the Tour of Britain where he excelled - finishing 11th in Stoke-on-Trent, 13th in that stage between Welshpool and Caerphilly, and 12th between Barnstable and Dartmouth.
It is this strength that he hopes to build on as he signs for what is currently the biggest team in the World.
“I see myself as a climbing specialist but my main aim with Team Sky is to develop my tour riding and get used to competing alongside the best riders in the world,” he explained.
“I think the first year is a lot about settling in and learning to be part of the team. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and further appreciating how to race at this level.”
Edmondson joins Tour of Britain winner Jonathan Tiernan-Locke as another British rider on the British team, with the home grown contingent dropping from ten to nine in 2013 after the departure of Mark Cavendish and Alex Dowsett, and the retirement of Jeremy Hunt.
“This is an international team but it’s one with a British heart and we are absolutely committed to nurturing the next generation of British talent,” confirmed team principal Dave Brailsford. “We have been keeping an eye on Josh since his time on the Olympic Development Programme and feel he is more than ready to take the next step in his career with a move up to the pro ranks.
“With the coaching and support staff on Team Sky, Josh is in the best possible place to continue his development and we look forward to watching him grow as a rider.”
The signing of Edmondson, added to that of under-23 Giro d'Italia winner Joe Dombrowski, Team Sky has snapped up two of the sport's most exciting emerging talents, from either side of the Atlantic.