Harry Tanfield has thanked Canyon Eisberg for making his dream come true.
The 23-year-old, from Great Ayton, has sealed a move to World Tour heavyweights Team KATUSHA ALPECIN.
Tanfield has penned a two-year deal and will link up with José Azevedo’s star-studded squad on January 1.
The switch is the latest step in a meteoric rise for the talent, who scooped a Commonwealth Games silver medal and Tour de Yorkshire stage win earlier this season.
It brings the curtain down on a memorable three years under the wing of Canyon Eisberg sports director Tim Elverson.
Tanfield, who also won World Tour admirers with second place behind Geraint Thomas in the national time trial championship, said:
“It has been a long time working with Tim, since joining him at Pedal Heaven in 2016. It has been a really good three years.
“I have had faith in him all the while we have been together. It has just been a great team to be involved in. I have loved it.
“Tim has progressed the team every year and he deserves huge credit. I’m so grateful for the opportunities he and Nick Allen, at Canyon UK, have given us.
“Three years ago it was almost unheard of that UK teams would go racing in Belgium and Holland so often.
“We were all really keen to do it. After all, that’s what is going to get you noticed. And I have to thank Tim for making it happen.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the season now. And I’ll still be in close contact with the team and always looking out for their results.”
Tanfield had offers from others teams at World Tour and Pro Continental level but he wanted to honour the time and money invested in him by Canyon.
He is already beginning to cast an eye over KATUSHA ALPECIN’s race programme but understands he must be patient in his bid to shine at the top level. Tanfield added:
“In my head, I would love to do the early season Asian races like Abu Dhabi and Dubai. And then into the smaller Classics.
“Races like Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne and Le Samyn, that is the way I’d like to head. Along with some of the HC ones which are flatter and more straightforward.
“Something like Paris-Roubaix would be insane. That would be a long-term goal. I did that as a junior but riding the real thing would be a dream.
“First thing’s first, though, I need to show what I can do. I’m going to be nervous, so it would be great to get one out of the way as early as possible but we’ll have to wait and see.
“I’m just excited about getting stuck in. I roomed with Alex (Dowsett) at the Euros and he only had good things to say about the team and says it is a great environment to race in.”