Stannard makes World Tour team

Manawatu¯ cyclist Robert Stannard bade farewell to his under-23 Mitchelton Bike Exchange team with a win and has joined the World Tour team.

Stannard has now moved up to ride with the Mitchelton Scott team. He had signed a two-year deal with the team starting from next year, but they moved him up early.

Stannard, 20, won a prestigious under-23 one-day race in Italy on Monday morning (NZ time), the Piccolo Lombardia, a 174-kilometre race in Lombardy in northern Italy. It was his fifth win of the season.

He then rode the Tre Valli Varesine with the senior team on Tuesday. It’s a 212km one-day race in northern Italy, where he finished 91st, but about half the field didn’t complete the tough course.

I am really excited to be riding with the team. It is great for my development to be able to do some races already this year with the team at this level,’’ Stannard said.

‘‘It is a really good stepping stone for me. I know the roads for Tre Valli Varesine. I live and train in the area so it is really nice to be able to race close to home, so it is a great race for me to start at with the team. ‘‘I am really excited. I don’t really know what to expect, but I’m sure I will be learning the whole time and hopefully I can be part of the team’s success in these first races.’’

He was to race the Milanotorino this morning.

Stannard will race at the Japan Cup later in the month, then will come home for about six weeks.