Davies steps up to Worldtour
British time trial ace steps up to Worldtour level
our-time British U23 time trial champion Scott Davies wants to develop into a general classification rider now that he has signed a two-year contract at Dimension Data.
The Welshman, 22, put pen to paper on his first professional deal last week and will be the fourth British rider on the South African team, joining Mark Cavendish, Scott Thwaites and close friend Steve Cummings.
Davies joins from Team Wiggins where over the past two seasons he has recorded a succession of top results in the biggest U23 races, including second overall at the 2016 Tour Alsace and fourth overall at the Baby Giro this June.
He told Cycling Weekly: “I haven’t mastered the whole GC thing yet, and I have work to do, but stage racing and GC is what I want to try and do.
“But until I get a taste of what the Worldtour level is like, it’s hard to say. I’m not well informed enough to say that’s what I am going to be. I will find out pretty soon if that’s the path I will go down, or if I have to reassess.”
The move makes Davies the third young British rider to sign a contract with a Worldtour team for 2018, with Chris Lawless moving to Team Sky and James Knox to Quick Step Floors.
Davies, like the aforementioned pair, had multiple offers to consider, but was sure he would join Dimension Data once they made contact.
“I didn’t hesitate once I got a call from them, it was a yes straight away,” he said.
“I’ve worked with Roger [Hammond, sports director] when I was at Madison-genesis in 2014 and I think a lot of people would agree that he is arguably the best DS out there.
“Steve Cummings was a big influence on me too. He has helped me out a lot this season when I have needed to bounce an idea off him or needed advice. He has taken me under his wing and I owe a lot of my success this season to Steve.”
Davies also confirmed that, race programme and team priorities permitting, the Commonwealth Games in Australia in April will be a target for him.