After three years at Astana, Merhawi Kudus is moving on in 2022, signing for EF Education-Nippo.
The Eritrean climber, now 27, believes he has potential still to be tapped, and is convinced Jonathan Vaughters' American squad is the place to do it.
"Here, I can achieve more, but I cannot do it alone," Kudus said. "With teamwork you can achieve more and go further than you imagine and I have always seen strong teamwork within EF. I believe in the team’s spirit."
"He really wanted to be on this team and that’s something that really means a lot to me when somebody says ‘this is the team I want to be at because I feel like you guys are the ones that are going to take me furthest in my career.’ That's music to my ears especially when I hear that from a guy like him because he’s had to break his way into cycling the tough way.
"I see him focused on mountain jerseys and stage wins. He can also do well in week-long stage races. And he’ll be great to help out guys that have GC ambitions. He’s a rider that can make that critical group of 20 to 30 riders in the mountains and be there to support."
Kudus himself has not indicated a preferred race programme for 2022, nor has the length of his contract been disclosed, but he's eyeing a return to the biggest race of all for the first time since that 2015 appearance.
"I want to support the team and also ride for myself, whatever that looks like," he said. "A stage victory in the Tour de France, that is the ultimate dream."
Kudus is EF-Nippo's second official signing for 2022, following Esteban Chaves from Team BikeExchange.
