Rising New Zealand World Tour cycling star, Mikayla Harvey has an early Christmas present with the announcement that she will join Canyon-SRAM for two years.
She will join fellow kiwi rider Ella Harris in the team that has also signed stars Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Chloe Dygert.
The 22-year-old New Zealander finished fifth overall and topped the young rider classification at this year's Giro Rosa, before placing seventh at La Flèche Wallonne.
Riding for Equipe Paule Ka, she was one of the riders left to search for contracts elsewhere when the team announced it would fold earlier this year after Paule Ka failed to make its sponsorship payments.
"There are many reasons why I was attracted to sign with Canyon-SRAM Racing. It is a well-developed team with a professional and open-minded approach to racing," Harvey said.
"The team promotes positivity and an immense passion for cycling culture. I believe my style of riding will add to the team and it will be the perfect environment to continue my development."
Branching out of New Zealand, Harvey raced for the American Illuminate team in 2017 and 2018, before hitting Europe in 2019 with Paule Ka - then known as Bigla.
She had a solid first season but 2020 was a breakthrough, with the Giro Rosa and Flèche Wallonne results joined by finishes just outside the top 10 at major races like Strade Bianche, GP Plouay, and La Course.
"I have big aspirations for the Italian, Spanish and Ardennes races where I believe I can add a lot to the team. I am a strong climber and can do a lot of damage on challenging courses," Harvey said.
"My favourite race of the season is Strade Bianche. I love gravel races, so this will be a huge goal of mine for next season."
For Canyon-SRAM, who also announced the extensions of four other riders, the signing brings their roster to 13 riders.
According to team manager Ronny Lauke, Harvey will help to strengthen an area in which the team haven't always shone.
"Mikayla is one of the shooting stars of the season and has made big steps forward. Her results in mountainous races were exceptional, even better when put in context to her young age," he said.
"With Mikayla joining, we strengthen our climbing group which was underrepresented on the team in previous years. I am convinced with the added talent and depth from our new riders we have found some very good additions that will make the team tactically more versatile."