Trek Factory Racing are following the lead of the Belgians, by launching a feeder team. Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Lotto Belisol both have one as do Giant-Shimano and Topsport Vlaanderen has long been a proving ground for young Belgians looking to move into the WorldTour.

Trek Factory Racing has confirmed the agreement reached with the APT-SPIE Douterloigne team, one of the most successful youth development teams. The agreement is supplemented by Trek’s bond with ISCorp, a U.S team who also help to bring through youngsters to the team.

"We have that association with ISCorp, but our desire was also to carry out a program of similar support in Europe and we are delighted to have found the right partner to achieve that," said Luca Guercilena, Trek’s General Manager. 

For Guercilena, the experience of his team "in the preparation of training and competition," will support young cyclists. "Part of our budget goes to staffing new riders and we can now invite the most successful and most promising young riders to attend training camps with us to see if they will fit in with our team. The experience they can gain from this is crucial in their development as bike riders.”