Scott Thwaites (Bora-Argon 18) has been with his current team through many of its previous changes. Having joined the Continental Endura Racing team in 2010, the young man from Yorkshire followed when they were merged with NetApp three years ago, having turned professional in the process. Thwaites came painfully close to his first win last season and, with an all-new sponsor backing him, he’s ready to change that.

“I want to win a race because I’ve never won a pro race as such; I’ve won a few races in Britain. Last year with NetApp-Endura I had two seconds and some thirds. It was quite frustrating because I’d like to win,” he toldCyclingnews.

There have been numerous, major changes at his German-registered team this year. Endura, the sponsor that has been at least partially responsible for Thwaites’ rise through the rankings, ended their partnership with the team along with primary sponsor NetApp. Bora have stepped up their support, and the team will also make the switch from Fuji to Argon 18 bikes.

“I’m looking for a new challenge. We’ve got great new sponsors on board and I feel like I’m a much better bike rider and I’ve learnt a lot over the last five years,” Thwaites said. “I feel like I’m a lot more confident. I’ve been to the level where you race against the big WorldTour teams and I wasn’t blown out, I was still there I was still fighting for the victories.

“I think the last few years have given me the confidence to not see these guys that I grew up watching on TV as sort of people who are superhuman, they’re all just men on bikes. It means I can mix it if I work hard enough.”

Thwaites will begin his season in full at the Tour of Qatar, where his role will be in Sam Bennett’s lead-out train, before he embarks on his classics program. He made his debut at the Tour of Flanders in 2014, and his goal is to progress through the ranks this season.

“[I’m] going for a big classics program this year. I kind of dipped my toes in the water last year and did some bigger ones, like Flanders, and I really enjoyed them. I think that it was a really good learning experience for this year and I think I can learn from that,” he explained.

Tour de Yorkshire

The last year has been a big one for Thwaites’ hometown of Yorkshire as the county successfully hosted the Tour de France Grand Départ. A new three-day stage race, Tour de Yorkshire, will take place this year from May 1-3. Yorkshire also recently announced its intentions to place its bid to host the World Championships. With the route going a short distance from his house on the outskirts of Leeds, Thwaites is excited about the opportunity to race so close to his home.

“The Tour de Yorkshire is a great legacy event. I’ve had a look at the route and it goes about 200 metres away from my house near the finish of the final stage. I’m sure it will be a great event and it’s got a few climbs in so it should be some really great racing,” he said. “I’d obviously love to ride it. If it doesn’t fall into our calendar then it would be a shame but I’ll just take whichever race comes up and give it my best shot.”

Thwaites was on the long-list for NetApp-Endura’s debut Tour de France, but didn’t make the final cut as the team had put all their efforts behind Leopold König, who had finished ninth in the previous Vuelta a España. Missing the Tour was an obvious disappointment for Thwaites but he accepted that it wasn’t the right time. “I would have loved to ride it but it was just a bit too early for me,” he said.

Thwaites believes, however, he will be ready if the opportunity emerges this year. “I’m a year stronger and a year older, so I’ve learnt a bit more. This year my provisional program is really good in the lead up to it and now I’m a year wiser in terms of what I need to do to be there. I’ll give it my best shot but I think that all depends on the focus that the team has at the Tour.”