Caja Rural - Seguros RGA has announces that Nick Schultz has signed a two-year contract with the team. The 22-year-old Australian is the fourth new rider for the Spanish team ahead of the 2017-season.
 
This year, Schultz rode for SEG Racing Academy before joining Orica-BikeExchange as stagiaire for the last part of the season. He has been getting impressive results throughout the year with several strong performances in the stage races. Most notable was his courageous solo victory on the queen stage of Tour de l’Avenir as the last surviving rider from an early breakaway.
 
Nick Schultz said: 

“Since I was very young, I dreamed of turning professional in Europe. It means so much to me that Caja Rural - Seguros RGA has provided me with this opportunity to pursue my dreams. The management of the team had already shown faith in me earlier this season and it was important for me to join a team who I felt believed in me and wanted to help me develop and progress through the professional ranks. I see Caja Rural - Seguros RGA as a very strong team who takes part in some of the nicest races in the world. From the exterior, it appears the team has a family like atmosphere and that is very important to me”.

After the current season ends, Schultz will move to Spain in order to get familiar with the team and his new teammates as quickly as possible.
 
“I would like to integrate with the team and learn Spanish. On the bike, it will be important to gain experience from the senior riders in the team and learn as much as possible. I would also like to repay the team for providing me with this opportunity by being active in the races and chasing good performances across the season”.