Lucas Hamilton will be taking the leap onto the biggest cycling stage in 2018, as he signs to Australian pro cycling outfit Orica-Scott.
Hamilton is set to join the professional team on a three-year contract in his first foray into the world of professional cycling.
The announcement comes off the back of an incredibly successful season for the 21-year-old rider with development team Mitchelton-Scott. Throughout the 2017 European road racing season, Hamilton achieved a number of great results, most notably an overall win in the Tour de Alsace, and an individual time trial win in the Baby Giro d’Italia.
Orica Scott sport director Matt White said he is excited for a rider like Hamilton to join the professional team.
“Lucas is the cream of the crop at U23 level and obviously it is exciting for us to have a guy like that come through our feeder team. We’ve seen the results he has had on the road this year and it’s going to be exciting to see him on board the professional team,” White said.
“He is a big talent. Where that talent will take him is our big challenge and responsibility to give him the right pathway through to the next level of professional cycling,” he said.
The VIS scholarship holder told CyclingTips on Friday that he is excited about the next few years with the pro outfit.
“I’m really happy to sign with Orica. I think it just naturally is a team that really suits me. And obviously I’ve always wanted to become a professional bike rider so I’m really happy to be in this position,” he said.
“If you’d asked me at the start of the year about the position I am in now, I’d be extremely happy, and I am extremely happy. I think with the team we’ve had this year, personally I’ve just really enjoyed it, to be honest,” Hamilton said.
