27-years-old climber Chris Butler will bring WorldTour experience and climbing qualities to the 2016 Cycling Academy team while Mexican climbing specialist Luis Lemus brings a new quality for the mountainous races next year.

"I’m excited about joining Cycling Academy Team" said Butler. "The team’s ambitious long-term goals align perfectly with what I also want to accomplish as a cyclist in the near future. I’ve had glimmers of results in Europe before. This year, Nicki [Sørensen, sports director] and Ran [Margaliot, managr] have really gotten me to change things up and work on things I have not paid much attention to in the past. I think with a good game plan and hard work I really want to reach what everyone believes my true potential to be."

The American rider began his career at the late age of 19 and by the age of 22 he already signed for BMC Racing Team. After spending 2 years in the WorldTour ranks, he moved to Asia with the Champion System Pro Continental team before making a move back to the US where he raced for Hincapie Racing Team in 2014 and withSmartStop Pro Cycling in 2015.

"Chris has shown an amazing amount of passion and desire to come back to race in Europe," said head sports director Nicki Sorensen. "We will help him work on his weaknesses and reach new peaks in his career".

Through the years, Butler has made a name for himself as one of the top climbers in North America. Among his main results are:
3rd place at the Vuelta Republica Dominicana (2015)
5th place at the Tour of Japan (2012)
6th place at the Tour of Hainan (2012)
9th place at the US National Championships (2015)
12th place at Tour of Utah (2013, 2014)
13 place in stage 2 of the Giro del Trentino (2013)

"I first heard about Chris' talent a few years ago, through his coach (and TrainingPeaks founder) Dirk Friel," said team manager Ran Margaliot. "One of our primary goals for the upcoming year is a selection to the most prestigious American races: California, Utah, Colorado and Alberta. I believe that a good demonstration of Chris's climbing talent in the first part of the season would be a great boost to our campaign."

23-year-old Mexican Lemus fails from Aguascalientes and turned professional at the age of 19 with the American Continental team Jelly Belly-Maxxis with whom he raced for 3 years until the end of 2014. In 2015, Lemus signed for the American Continental team Airgas - Safeway Cycling Team.

"We first noticed Luis' talent in the recent Tour of Azerbaijan, where we saw him bridging a 3-minute gap from the peloton to the break by himself. It was a very brave move and one that not many riders would dare to make," said Cycling Academy Team manager Ran Margaliot. "I do believe, however, that Luis has a far bigger potential than what we currently see. And we will definitely give him the tools to fulfil it."

"The decision to join Cycling Academy Team was natural," said Lemus. "The team plans to grow and the very structured environment which the team allows, is crucial to the transition. It will be my first full season to be based in Europe and it will allow me to make a step forward towards my goal of racing the world's biggest races one day."

During his short career, Lemus already achieved some impressive success, including 2 consecutive Mexican national titles (in 2012 and 2013), a stage win at the 2014 Tour of Hokkaido and the most aggressive jersey in the queen stage of the 2014 Amgen Tour of California.

More signing are expected to be announced in the upcoming days