Now four of Aqua Blue Sport's 16 riders have found places at WorldTour teams for next year. Adam Blythe is the latest; agreeing terms with Lotto Soudal.
British sprinter Adam Blythe has become the fourth of Aqua Blue Sport’s 16 riders to secure a WorldTour contract.
Blythe will ride for Lotto-Soudal next year. He will assist fellow new signing Caleb Ewan in the sprints and take his own chances when he can.
Former British national champion Blythe has already spent one season as a team mate of Ewan’s.
His move was confirmed today and it means Blythe is effectively going back to where he began his pro career.
Also of Aqua Blue Sport this year, Casper Pedersen has just signed for Team Sunweb. And Larry Warbasse has joined AG2R-La Mondiale.
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Ireland’s Eddie Dunbar has signed for Team Sky and is racing for that team already.
“At the age of twenty, I did an internship at Lotto Soudal, Omega Pharma-Lotto back then, and was able to join the WorldTour team afterwards,” Adam Blythe said today.
“I’m really excited to return to the Belgian team. And it’s definitely a real privilege to be racing for this renowned cycling team once again.
“I’m looking forward to helping Caleb Ewan in winning as many races as possible. Besides my role in Ewan’s lead-out, Lotto Soudal can also count on my support in the classics."
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Pedersen winning the European U23 road title in 2017. Warbasse taking a Tour de Suisse mountain stage, also last year.
Blythe continued: “Even though I didn’t ride a complete classics season for the last two years, I did ride those races many times before during my time at the other WorldTour teams.
“Next season will be my ninth year as a professional cyclist. And through the years I was able to gain a lot of experience - also in the classics.”
Adam Blythe has proven very resilient in the past. When he dropped down from the top tier to Continental level, he moved back up again after winning Prudential RideLondon Classic (1.HC).
He beat some very heavy hitters to win that race four years ago from a breakaway.
He saw off Ben Swift (Team Sky), Julian Alaphilippe (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing).
Decade-long record in pro peloton
Blythe has ridden for seven teams since he first took up his place in the pro peloton as an 18-year-old stagiaire with Continental team Konica Minolta-Bizhub in 2008.
He did another stagiaire with Silence-Lotto at the end of 2009, staying with the team – as it became Omega Pharma-Lotto – for the next two years.
In 2012 and 2013 he rode for another WorldTour team, BMC Racing. A season a Continental level in the UK follow, where he rode for NFTO.
He went back up to the highest level with Orica GreenEdge for 2015; followed by Tinkoff in 2016, the year it closed.
In 2017 he signed for Aqua Blue Sport, riding for the full year and for 7½ months this year before the team suddenly stopped.
Irish champion Conor Dunne was also a member of Aqua Blue Sport this year and he is among 12 riders still looking to find a place for next year.
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