Following yesterday's announcement that the team has been granted a ProTeam license for the next two years, Team Europcar has signed Antoine Duchesne. The U23 Canadian champion will leave the Bontrager team to turn professional with the French team.

Yesterday was a great day for Team Europcar who finally got confirmation that the team is back in the WorldTour after three years at the pro continental level. The UCI granted the French team a two-year license that will see them gain automatic entry to the biggest races in the world.

Earlier this year, team manager Jean-Rene Bernaudeau had stated that he would need to hire a few extra riders if the team's application was successful and he later confirmed that Antonie Duchesne would join the team if they were granted the license. Following yesterday's news, the team has issued a press release to inform that the U23 Canadian champion will indeed be part of the team in 2014.

In 2013 Duchesne rode for the Bontrager Development Team and he proved his talents by taking part in breakaways in big races like the Tour of California and the Tour of Alberta. In the latter race, he even finished 5th on the penultimate stage and he was 3rd at his elite national championships.

“I am truly happy to have been able to sign with Europcar, especially in a year like this one with so many teams leaving," he said. "It’s almost a dream to reach the top level like this; I’ve been working at this goal since forever."

“We are happy to welcome Antoine to our team for 2014 and 2015," Bernaudeau said. "We had heard about him several times over the past two years and began more serious negotiations with him during our visit in Quebec last September for the Quebec and Montreal Grand Prix Cyclistes. Louis Garneau and Serge Arsenault had nothing but praise for this young Quebec cyclist, whom they qualify as one of the most promising Canadian cyclists of the year. Antoine is a versatile rider and will be an asset to the team."

Duchesne's contract is a testament to the success of the Bontrager team. He is the fourth rider to turn professional next year, with Nathan Brown riding for Garmin-Sharp, Lawson Craddock for Argos-Shimano and Jasper Stuyven for Trek in 2014.

Europcar will start their first training camp today and make their race debut in the Tropicale Amissa Bongo in January.