Trek-Segafredo has signed Nathanael Tesfazion from Drone Hopper Androni Giocattoli to a two-year contract, making him the third new rider for the American team for the 2023 season.

Tesfatzion, who spent two seasons with Gianni Savio's Italian pro team, becomes the eighth Eritrean rider to compete on the World Tour and a valuable addition to the Trek-Segafredo climbing team.

The 22-year-old will join Trek-Segafredo next season along with two other promising riders, former Gazprom Rusvelo young rider Matthias Vacek and Belgian Tibau Nais.

"Tesfazion has proven to be a solid rider ready to move up to the big leagues," team boss Luca Guercilena said in a Trek Segafredo press release. We have been monitoring him for two years and in that time he has shown great ability on both short and long climbs, and he can also sprint"

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"He is a complete rider and a promising prospect worth investing in. I believe there is still room for improvement to become a standout on the World Tour."

"I am very happy to have him on the team.

So far in his career, which began with a two-year stint on Dimension Data's Continental team in 2019 and 2020, Tesfacion has accumulated five wins, including two overall wins at the Tour de Rwanda.

Last season he made his Grand Tour debut at the Giro d'Italia, and in 2022 he finished second in the Adriatica Ionica race, won a stage at the Monte Grappa summit finish, fourth in the GP Industria e Artigianato, and won the Giro dell'Appennino alone He was second behind Louis Mainz, who won the Giro dell'Appennino alone, among other notable results.

"Joining Trek-Segafredo is the biggest opportunity of my life so far. I want to thank everyone who has helped me get to this point and, of course, the team management for their trust in me."

"I have a new big challenge in front of me, but I am happy and very excited to face it. I feel that my dream has come true. As a member of Trek Segafredo, I am confident that I will be able to improve my skills and grow more and more over the next two years.

"I want to do my best to contribute to the team's success and live up to their trust. This motivation and my pride in my home country will drive me to stand out at the highest level."

Tesfazion joins his compatriot Amanuel Gebrexavier on the team, becoming the latest Eritrean to race at the sport's pinnacle.

Daniel Teklehaimanot, Metkel Eyob, Mekseb Debesay, Natnael Berhane, and Merhawi Kudus will also join Astana, BikeExchange, Cofidis, EF Education- EasyPost, and other teams on the World Tour. Finally, Biniam Girmay emerged as one of the top riders in the peloton this year, winning the Ghent-Wevelgem and Giro d'Italia stage 10 as part of Intermarque Wantigovert.

Tesfazion's former team, Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli, faces a battle for survival this offseason as its title sponsor, Spanish drone startup Drone Hopper, faces financial difficulties for the 2023 season ...

Team boss Gianni Savio told La Gazzetta dello Sport last month that the team's riders are free to sign elsewhere in order to save the long-running team.