British rider Jacob Vaughan joins Lotto-Soudal under-23 team

Up-and-coming British rider Jacob Vaughan has been signed by the Lotto-Soudal under-23 development team for the 2018 season.

The 18-year-old from Surrey claimed the 2016 British junior road race title and has been making an impact on both the British and continental scenes this season.

In February, Vaughan placed second behind Chris Opie in the season-opening Perfs Pedal Race, which was the VC Londres rider's first race at senior level. He then won the Guido Reybrouck Classic in Belgium in March and took part in the junior editions of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Nokere Koerse, Ghent-Wevelgem and E3 Harelbeke.

Vaughan rode for Great Britain at the 2017 World Championships in Bergen, Norway, finishing 36th in the junior men's road race after supporting his team-mates.

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"I'm really looking forward to the new challenge," said Vaughan.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has help me to achieve my ambition of riding for one of the leading under-23 teams in Europe."

Another former British junior champion, Dan McLay, followed the same path to the continent.

McLay rode for Lotto-Soudal under-23s before being signed by French team Bretagne–Séché Environnement (now known as Fortuneo-Oscaro), and has just secured his first WorldTour contract with EF Education First-Drapac for 2018.