Deceuninck-QuickStep has acquired 21-year-old talent Mauro Schmid from the Qhubeka-NextHash team.

The Swiss rider signed a two-year neo-pro contract with the South African team this season and burst onto the scene by winning the gravel stage of the Giro d'Italia.

Qhubeka-NextHash is underfunded and not in a position to run the team again next year, so the riders are free to look for contracts elsewhere, but Schmidt will be with the Belgian team he says he always admired.

"Coming to this team now is a dream come true. I have so many memories of watching the classics as a kid and seeing this team always playing well," Schmidt said.

"It's this mentality of always trying to win and this team that comes together strong. It's really all or nothing here, and a lot of players get a chance to win."

Schmidt started out on mountain bikes and also competed in cyclocross as a junior and U23.

He also has experience in track racing, and Detunink-Quickstep boss Patrick Lefevre believes he has all-round talent and room for improvement.

"Mauro is still young, but he has already experienced a Grand Tour stage. The stage in Montalcino proves what he is capable of," Lefevere said.

"Not long ago he was still combining different disciplines, so he still has room to grow. For the next two years he will concentrate on the road.

Schmidt will be the fifth newcomer for the Belgian team known as Quick Step Alpha Vinyl in 2022. He is the same young player as Ethan Vernon, Stan Van Trijt, Martin Svrcek, and Louis Verweke, who joined to strengthen Remco Evenpol's support network.

Evenpoel signed new long-term contracts earlier this year, as did Julian Alaphilippe and Kasper Asgreen. Leaving the team are sprinters Sam Bennett and Alvaro Hodeg, as well as Grand Tour contender Joao Almeida.

In early October, Lefebvre revealed that the team had 29 riders registered for 2022, with one spot still available. Schmidt's announcement brings the team's confirmed roster to 27 players, with three players from the current team yet to announce their plans for next year: mark Cavendish, Joseph Cerny, and Mattia Cattaneo.