Talented Czech rider Michal Schlegel has joined CCC Sprandi Polkowice. He has signed a two-year contract.

"Michal Schlegel has big potential to be one of the top stage race riders. His time trialling skills are solid and he is at his best on the climbs. He has showcased that in Tour de l’Avenir, which is called by some the Tour de France for espoirs. He finished in the top 10 overall, which is an outstanding result," says Piotr Wadecki, sport director of CCC Sprandi Polklowice.

"I had decided to join CCC Sprandi Polkowice because it’s a well-run professional team. I spent the last two years racing for the development team, so to move up to the second division is a big step up for me," Michal Schelgel explains. –"I hope to gain valuable experience, since it will be my first year in truly professional cycling. I want to be useful and show everyone how strong I can be. I don’t know my race program yet, but it will be important for me to finish races with the best riders and maybe even be better than them."

The 21-year old rider has been racing for two years for the development squad for UCI World Tour team Etixx-Quick Step, AWT Greenway and Klein Constantia. He specializes in stage races. He completed the most prestigious event in U23 ranks, Tour de l’Avenir, in 8th place in general classification. In the last two seasons, in total, he took part in 22 stage races.

He can also deliver solid results in the one-day races and time trials. In the 2015 U23 World Championship Road Race he finished 7th and is the current Czech champion both in road race and TT in U23 category.

His palmeras also includes two wins in the youth classification of the last two editions of Czech Cycling Tour (taking 6th and 8th in GC), as well as being the best youngster in East Bohemia Tour (2015) and Portuguese GP Internacional Torres Vedras (2015). As a junior, Schlegel won two gold medals in National time trial championships.