Vaughters: ‘He is an exceptional young talent’
After racing for much of the season with the Chipotle First Solar development squad and then having stepped up with a stagiaire slot with its WorldTour sister team, Garmin-Sharp, Steele Von Hoff has been given a pro contract with the latter for 2013 and 2014.
The Australian sprinter secured a WorldTour slot through two waves of results. The first was with the development team, where he clocked up four victories this season; he was first on a stage of the Tour du Loir et Cher in April, then went on to take one stage in the Olympia’s Tour and two in the Tour de la Guadeloupe.
However it was his stagiaire slot which proved he had what it takes to succeed. He was third and seventh on stages of the Tour of Denmark, then sixth on a stage and sixth overall in the new World Ports Classics. The Tour of Britain was further confirmation, with second and fourth on stages underlining his talent.
“It has been my dream ever since I started riding to race at the top level in the sport and Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda is the perfect fit for my racing goals and moral beliefs,” he said. “They are going to work with me to help me achieve the best results I can over a long-term period, and have my best interests in mind while trying to achieve those results.”
Team CEO Jonathan Vaughters welcomed him on board, saying that he could go far in the sport. “He is an exceptional young talent and we will continue to help him grow, over time,” he promised. “We know that he will be an important addition for next season – he already showed what he can do at the Pro Tour level as a stagarie through the fall.”
The team has a good reputation in the sport and Von Hoff said that this was a big consideration. “Their commitment to clean cycling is something very important to me. I have a lot of respect for the team and think I will learn a lot from the riders on board,” he said. “I’m very excited to make it to the top level with the team I have always admired and respected.”