The Trek Factory Racing team, known until the end of this year as RadioShack, was never considered as a friendly environment for to young riders to develop their skills differently than by supporting their more esteemed team-mates. Next year nothing suggests the situation should change, as Fabian Cancellara aims to have a stellar season crowned with his attempt to break the Hour Record, while Schleck brothers are announcing their tremendous comeback every single week..

However, twenty-year old neo-pro Calvin Watson couldn’t resist the chance he was given by the American World Tour team, and will make his Trek Factory Racing debut at the Santos Tour Down Under next month.

Young Australian admits, that his victory at the Herald Sun Tour and aggressive racing during previous edition of Tour Down Under enabled him to capture the necessary attention of World Tour teams, which was finalized by signing his first professional contract with Trek Factory Racing.

“At the start of this year I had a nice victory at the Herald Sun Tour and that sparked a bit of interest and got my name out there. Then I went onto ride the Tour Down Under and I raced quite aggressive. That caught the eye and with the help of my manager, and after a few talks with Luca Guercilena, we came to an agreement.”

Even though Australian Orica-GrenEDGE would be the World Tour team of a first choice for 20-year old Watson, the rider admits that it was impossible to resist the offer from Trek Factory once he sniffed an opportunity to step up to the professional level, after it become clear Orica couldn’t offer him a spot for the coming year.

“It’s an amazing opportunity and I’m looking forward to it,” he told Cyclingnews.

“With being in the Australian programme all the home riders look up to going to GreenEdge but there’s so many talents coming out of Australia they weren’t ready to sign me this year and that’s totally fair enough. I was more than happy to come to a team like Trek. It’s an international team but it’s still a bit outside of your comfort zone. It was nice to have a change as such. If you get the sniff of a pro contract you can’t say no to that.”

Watson will debut at his home ground World Tour event – Santos Tour Down Under, while he was handed a racing schedule for 2014 season that should be considered as no less than impressive from the perspective of a neo-pro rider.

“I’m starting at the Tour Down Under, that’s public already, but after that I’ll come back to Europe. Nearly all my races will be WorldTour, which is cool. I know it will be a big step but Luca, Baffi and the trainers will ease me into it and have put together a programme for me."

“I’ll do some one day races in France and then one of the big objectives will be Romandie, California and the Dauphine. They’re big races but I’m excited about the challenges that lie ahead.”

Obviously, it hasn’t really needed a special emphasizing, that during his first season as a professional rider Watson should rather learn his trade and concentrate on helping his more experienced colleagues, that on achieving any significant results by himself.

“At the same time I’m not getting ahead of myself. I’ll be there to learn, develop and work for the leaders. If any opportunities do arise I’ll try and take them. This team has so many champions and I’ll try and flourish."

“The team that’s going to the Tour Down Under is quite ambitious I think. We have guys suited to all the terrain. I’m going to be there to support whoever the leader is and at this stage it looks like Fränk Schleck Schleck will be in good condition. We have to see how the race pans out.”