Ineos complete signing of 18-year-old Spanish time trial star
The youngster has signed a four-year deal with the British squad
Ineos have announced the signing of Carlos Rodriguez, an 18-year-old who has won the junior Spanish time trial championships for the previous two years.
He arrives from Kometa Cycling's junior team, agreeing a four-year deal that will see him race for the British squad until at least the end of 2023.
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As well as his time trial victories, Rodriguez has impressed with junior victories at Gipuzkoa Klasika and the Tour de Gironde, as well as finishing sixth in the 2018 Paris-Roubaix juniors, which was won by Brit Lewis Askey.
Ineos say they have identified potential climbing talent in the Spanish youngster, and will hope to mould him into a future star.
Alongside racing, Rodriguez plans to remain in university education and complete his degree in engineering.
Speaking of his delight at signing with the WorldTour outfit, Rodriguez said: "I am under no illusions it is a big step up to the professional level. The training is going to be harder and the races much faster. I think that if I work hard, step by step, I can progress and adapt myself to the WorldTour. That’s my main objective for the next few seasons and I’m in the best place to do that.
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"At this stage in my career I think of myself as an all-round rider. Being consistent across the different disciplines is my strength, but I like the climbs and the tough races."
Team INEOS Coach Xabier Artetxe added the team's delight at having secured a great prospect for the future: "Carlos has achieved some really good results in Spanish races and in the last two or three years he’s been one of, if not the best rider of his age.
"He’ll start from zero, learn everything and find his place in professional cycling. I think he’s going to be a really good climber in the future. He’s an exciting talent, a bright guy doing a university course in engineering. It’s an important focus for him, keeping up his studies and his cycling.
"The goal is to be in a position where he can learn as much as possible. It’s not about the results or how he performs in the races. He’ll be in training camps and races with some of the best riders in the world and learn from them. He’s in the best university that he can be in for cycling, and if he’s smart then he’s going to absorb all this experience."
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Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
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