After a breakthrough 2019 season with Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling, James Piccoli is realizing a dream and stepping up to the big stage of cycling with Israel Startup Nation. At the team's preseason camp in Israel last week, the Canadian met his new teammates for the first time and got a taste of the "special" atmosphere of the newest team on the World Tour.

Speaking to Cycling News at a reception hosted by team co-owner Ron Baron in Tel Aviv, the Canadian rider enjoyed the new experience, saying that the team came together quickly after their first meeting.

"I'm very happy to be here, and I've already heard in the past week, not only from myself, but from a number of people with World Tour experience, that there is something special here. Several of the players have told me that it's a very special place."

"I'm very happy to be here,"

"I'm very happy to be here, I'm very happy to be here.

"I chose Israel because I wanted a good team environment. Before I came here, I could only guess what it would be like, but when I actually got here, I was extra surprised. Some of the people who work here are really open, open-minded, and caring, and for someone in a career stage like me who still needs to learn and grow, they are the kind of people you want to be a part of."

"This is what everyone has told me, but it's not often that a World Tour team is so open, positive, and news-cool. Ultimately, to keep progressing, you have to choose an environment where you can progress. The coaches, the performance directors, everyone here was a good fit for me and the decision was easy."

Piccoli, who turned 28 in September, made the transition from the U.S. Continental level to the World Tour later than most neo-pros, but he also started cycling relatively late.

When he signed with Israel Startup Nation in October, he said he was in his early 20s and only started racing toward the end of his mechanical engineering degree. He got his start in 2014 with Amore & Vita, and after bouncing from one North American team to another, he has settled in with Elevate KHS for the past three seasons.

The Quebec native won the Tour of the Gila and finished second overall in the Tour de Taiwan, Jo Martin Stage Race, Tour de Beauce, and Tour of Utah. He also participated for the first time in the road world championships in Yorkshire.

The World Tour, however, is something else entirely. However, Piccoli believes he landed in the perfect place to get a taste of the rigors of pro cycling's highest level of racing.

"I wanted to find a safe place to learn and grow. Israel believed in my short- and long-term abilities.

"The team atmosphere is incredible. In general, I don't think people in cycling put enough emphasis on how a good atmosphere creates good performance. People like to measure wattage, power output, and race tactics, but just having good friends in a great environment leads to performance.

"I don't really know the answer because it's uncharted territory," Piccoli said in response to a question about what he hopes to accomplish on the World Tour.

"But I want to be a good rider--like a really good rider--and I think this is where James Piccoli in five years will be 100 percent grateful to me now for choosing Israel."

Piccoli is one of 17 newcomers to the Israel Startup Nation in 2020, when the team takes over Katusha Alpecin and is promoted from the Professional Continental level to start up again.

He is one of a handful of riders who will be the first to move up to the World Tour level, including fellow North American Travis McCabe, but the team welcomes a number of experienced campaigners, including Andre Greipel, Dan Martin, and Dani Navarro.

"I have a great group of people to learn from," says Piccoli. 'I get to learn from some of the best riders in the world, like Dan Martin, Andre Greipel, and Ben Hellmans. I think that will make it easier for me to adapt to European races and work for the team this year."

"I'm very happy to be here.

In addition to racing against a new level of competition, the racing itself is another element for Piccoli to step up; the full 2020 calendar is still undecided, but the first half of the season looks solid depending on performance.

"I still can't believe it. I'm pinching myself looking at some of the races I might compete in next season. It's pretty amazing," he says.

"As for the schedule, we start with the Tour Down Under. I'll stay in One Day for two more days and then I'll join the Herald Sun Tour. Then we go to the Tour de Rwanda, then to Catalunya and Iturria Basque Country.

"Then, if all goes well and if it's not too much already, we'll start with the Giro d'Italia. I still get goosebumps when those words come out of my mouth."

Races like the Giro are a whole new ball game compared to the races Piccoli excelled at in 2019, but he is confident in his abilities and feels that three weeks of racing is where his future lies.

"The Grand Tour is something completely different, so I won't know until I try it, but the way I train and the way my body reacts to training and racing makes me a good fit for the Grand Tour.

"I've always loved the Grand Tours and for me it's always been my favorite type of race.