Time trial and track pursuit specialist John Archibald has taken a "step into the unknown" by signing a contract with UCI pro team Eolo Cometa for the upcoming season.

The 30-year-old Scotsman, a Commonwealth Games silver medalist on the track, has taken the British time trial scene by storm this year, when his opportunities in road racing were limited.

Archibald stepped up from continental racing with fellow Briton Mark Christian when Sean Yates placed him in the Italian-registered Eolo Cometa team.

"If we can get him into time trials like stage races and prologue, he might have a decent race," Archibald said.

"We've had some decent results in road races in 2019, so maybe we can get some good results in road races. I have no idea how it will be different or in what aspects, but I know I'm preparing to be at my best. It's really a sink or swim scenario, and we can only hope that it lasts. We'll just have to wait it out

"Because of my size, I'll never be a GC climber. I'm better at time trials, breakaways, and one-day races. I don't know if I'm the type to just get the job done or if I'm the type to get results. I'm in the dark at this stage. I just have to do my best for the team."

With the support of the Alberto Contador Foundation, the team will start at the continental level under the Polartec Comenta banner in 2018, with Ivan Basso as sports manager.

The roster will consist primarily of Italian and Spanish athletes, and the team will aim to earn a wildcard spot in the World Tour race after promotion to the professional team level for the 2021 season.

"We have ambitions to compete in the World Tour race. With the Italian sponsors and the involvement of famous riders like Alberto Contador, Ivan Basso, and Sean Yates, I think I have a good chance of getting a wildcard spot in a World Tour event," Archibald said. [Whether it's a stage race like Tirreno-Adriatico, the Giro d'Italia, or a stand-alone classic race like Strade Bianche, I don't know, but they are optimistic, so we'll see what happens. I don't know what kind of race I'll be in, but either way it's a step up for me."

Archibald raced for Continental team Ribble Weldtite in 2019, finishing third in the British Championship road race won by Ben Swift. Along with other national road wins, Archibald also performed well in the Tour of Yorkshire.

"The main thing is to have confidence in what you can do at the back of the race," Archibald said. 'But when you bring that into a road race where you have to perform in the last hour of a four- to five-hour race, things start to get a little confusing.'

"Two years ago [in 2019], the turning point was when I realized I could compete at that kind of intensity and distance. I was either there or in it, and that gave me confidence."

After winning silver in the National Time Trial, Archibald was selected for the World Championships in his hometown of Harrogate.

This season, Archibald dominated the British national time trial scene, winning three national titles at different distances. However, he failed to place in the time trial at the World Championships in Italy.

This powerful athlete says that the international rolling style time trial course suits his style better than the flat competition.

"A closed road sport course with curves and technical elements that require varying power.

"When you get the opportunity to race against professional level riders in a time trial like this and be part of the mix, it's a real opportunity. I was happy to finish 14th at the World Championships in Harrogate. We beat a lot of big names, but we also lost to 13 riders.

"It's good to put yourself in that kind of frame of mind and think about where the top guys are and how you can get to that level.

Archibald will fly to Spain on Saturday for a training camp and will continue to be based in Glasgow in 2021, participating in races and training camps as the team requests.

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