Current U.S. road racing champion Alex Howes will remain with the EF Education First WorldTour team through the 2021 season, it was announced Wednesday.
Howes is the longest-tenured rider on the U.S. team and signed his first WorldTour contract as Garmin-Sharp in 2012.
Prior to that, he raced on the team's development squad and made his first World Tour appearance as a trainee in 2009.
"The team has changed a lot over the years, but the core philosophy and mentality of the team has always remained the same," Howes said. 'We were always the unlucky losers who found a way to win through skill and guts. That mentality resonates with me and keeps me coming back."
He has been on the podium at the Tour of Alberta and Colorado Classic, won stages at the Tour of Utah and Alberta, Colorado and Cascade Classics, USA Pro Challenge and Tour of the Gila, and won the mountain prize at the 2017 Vuelta al País Vasco Howes had a frustrating 2018 season until he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and underwent treatment.
Since then, he has reversed his disappointing showing at the U.S. National Championships by winning the Noxil this past June ahead of Steven Bassett and Nielson Powles.
"Racing in the jersey is a dream come true," he said. I get goosebumps every time I put my number on the U.S. national jersey. I can't wait to wear it at the big race in Europe next spring."
Team CEO Jonathan Borchers called Howes "an intelligent, well-spoken member of this team since he was 13."
"Wearing the Stars and Stripes is a fair reward for all that Alex has put into this sport," Vaughters said.
"We couldn't be more excited to help him show off his jersey in 2020.Howes has participated this season with Lachlan Morton and Taylor Finney in events such as Dirty Kanza, the Crusher in the Tushar gravel grinder, and the Leadville 100, an ultra-endurance mountain bike race." He was one of the riders who challenged the "alternative racing calendar" and intends to do so in the future.
"Alternative racing puts a big smile on my face from the pre-dawn start to the afternoon finish," says Howes. 'Grassroots events like this are inspiring.'
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