Carthy Aims For Grand Tour Future At Cannondale

Highly rated climber is looking for week-long race experience as he steps up to the World Tour.

- Sophie Hurcom

British climber Hugh Carthy has said he is aiming to race Grand Tours, and is hoping for a start in either the Giro d’Italia or the Vuelta Espana next year, after signing for Cannondale-Drapac for 2017.

The highly rated 22-year-old had been coveted by WorldTour teams after a notable season in which he finished ninth overall at the Tour of Catalonia alongside Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana, and won the three-stage Vuelta a Asturias.

He has spent the past two years racing with Spanish Continental squad Caja Rural and chose to join American team Cannondale, saying he wants to get experience riding three week-long races.

“I see my future riding Grand Tours. Not necessarily winning Grand Tours or even winning stages, I don’t know, but I think my characteristics lie in racing Grand Tours,” he told Cycling Weekly.