Ian Boswell is headed to British squad Sky as a WorldTour rookie for 2013. The 21-year-old American, second at the U23 Liège–Bastogne–Liège this year, will join Sky after riding as a stagiaire at Argos-Shimano this fall.
"I'm really excited to be joining Team Sky,” said Boswell. “It's like signing for the Yankees in baseball. It's the best team in the world. Team Sky have the best equipment, best riders, best staff and the best organization. To be a part of a team like this in my first professional season is an honor.”
Boswell broke onto the scene in 2010, just weeks after signing with U.S. Continental squad Bissell, with third overall at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. He moved to the Bontrager-Livestrong development team in 2011 and this year established himself with his gritty ride in tough conditions at Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Boswell and Joshua Berry, who finished third, were the first Americans to finish on the podium at the espoirs version of La Doyenne. Boswell also finished fifth overall at the Tour de l’Avenir in September.
"I tend to be a climber or a GC rider, which is a good role to have on this team. There are a lot of older riders who are similar to me in that respect, and I want to learn as much as I can from them. I'm excited to work with this team and I want to progress and develop with them,” said Boswell. “During my first year my aim is to learn as much as I can from everyone — from the staff, coaches and riders, and just become the most successful professional that I can be.”
Sky coach Bobby Julich said that the team was approaching Boswell and Joe Dombrowski, whom the team also signed from Bontrager-Livestrong, with the long view.
"Ian and Joe are two of the most talented under-23 riders in the world and we will offer them the best possible race and training programmes to aid their progression. We see this as a long-term project at Team Sky and it'll be exciting for everyone involved,” he said. "We must be doing something right if they've chosen to sign for us over the American teams. I followed a similar path during my racing career, went through a lot of the same things they are going through at the moment, and I think we can help them a lot."
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