Simon Kerr won the last race of the 2020 season and has signed a WorldTour contract with EF Education-Nippo for this season. He, along with Hugh Carthy, is the only British rider on the US-registered team.

The 22-year-old Englishman grew up in France, but said it was his British roots that allowed him to withstand the tough conditions of the Prueba Villafranca Ordidiaco Classica in the Basque Country.

"I managed to stay with the lead group through a long, cold, wet, and exhausting race and attacked on the final climb with 12 kilometers to go," Kerr said. Carr pulled away from the rest of the pack, including former World Tour rider Winner Anacona (Team Arkea-Samsic), by 36 seconds to take the win in October.

"I crossed the summit with a 12-second lead, held off the rest of the pack on the treacherous descent, and was able to ride solo to the finish. This result was the catalyst for my eventual switch from Pro Conti to the World Tour.

In 2019, after four top-10 finishes in race stages, including two fifth-place finishes in stages of Le Tour de Savoie Mont Blanc, Kerr decided to remain with French amateur team AVC Aix-en-Provence from the beginning of last season.

The youngster said that there are outstanding matters at that level and that he plans to move to the Pro Continental level with Nippo Delco One Provence mid-season.

"I had unfinished business in the amateur races and wanted to get a good result, especially at the Tour Savoie Mont-Blanc," Kerr added.

"That was my plan right before I turned pro on August 1, but COVID and Lockdown came along and my amateur career ended there."

Carr's pro conti debut did not go as planned, as a knee injury delayed his first appearance, and his license did not arrive in time for the Tour de Ain; Carr resumed his season on his 22nd birthday at the end of August, and his late-season performances have impressed the EF Education- Nippo selection committee members were impressed.

"After the race in Italy, the only big race left was the Tour of Portugal, which is famous for being incredibly hard. After the race in Italy, the only big race left was the Tour of Portugal, famed for being incredibly hard."

"In the second stage I came very close, but with two kilometers to go I had a mechanical problem and lost that chance. I ended up fourth, but that allowed me to keep my lead in the battle for the young riders until the end."

Cycling was not Carr's first sport, and at a young age he won a national-level karting competition in France.

"I was good enough to compete with the drivers currently competing in Formula 1, but I didn't have the financial backing," Carr added.

After karting, Carr joined a track club but injured his Achilles tendon and took up cycling as a recovery. He excelled in uphill mountain bike races at school and was introduced to a local cycling club by a classmate, which marked the beginning of his journey in the sport.

"Before turning pro, I had only raced in mainland Europe. I raced mostly in France, but also in Italy, Switzerland, and Spain, and since EF Europe is based in Girona, I may end up living there for at least part of the year."

He measures his abilities and is not shy about producing results at the top level of his profession.

"Until recently, I might have been wrongly perceived as a pure climber because I am a good time trialer and can hold my own on the flats and in crosswinds. As an amateur, I was able to compete for wins on the GC, and I hope to eventually show this ability on the World Tour," Kerr said.

"But realistically, I'm setting my sights on doing my best as a teammate to more experienced riders. In the process, I might even be able to get a stage win in a Grand Tour."