American time trial champion Ian Garrison is stepping up to the WorldTour after signing a two-year contract with Deceuninck-QuickStep through 2021.The 21-year-old is under the guidance of Axel Merckx of Hagens Berman Axeon, He has spent the last three years of his career and is looking forward to testing his legs against some of pro cycling's best.

"I'm really excited," he said. 'It's an incredible opportunity to ride with a team at this level. I've been a fan of Wolfpack for a long time and have watched them race, so I'm excited to be a part of it and learn."

"I'm only 21 years old and want to have a long career, and seeing the progress that Detunink-Quickstep has made in helping other young riders and believing they can get the best out of me is a big part of my decision.

Garrison won the elite men's time trial title at the USA Cycling National Championships in June and was one of two Americans on the podium in the under-23 men's time trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire in September. Denmark's Mikkel Bjerg won the world title, with Garrison taking silver and Brandon McNulty bronze. McNulty and Bjerg will step up to the World Tour level next season with UAE Team Emirates.

"We are very happy to have another young and talented rider on our roster," said Patrick Lefevere, CEO of Dečuninck Quickstep. Ian has already proven he can compete with the best, and we hope we can help him get even stronger." Winning an elite ITT title at such a young age proves that he already has the talent and commitment, and we look forward to working with him."

Garrison joined Merckx's team in 2017 after winning a bronze medal in the junior men's time trial at the 2016 World Championships. During his three years with the American team, he took a stage win at the Tour de Beauce and made the podium at Le Triptyque des Mons et Chateaux and Ghent-Wevelgem/Kattekoas Ypres.

Garrison grew up riding bicycles with his parents. He mixed road, cyclo-cross, and track in his race program while watching live streaming of the Grand Tours. He thanked Merckx and his teammates for their support over the past three years of his career, which helped him reach the World Tour.

"I loved watching the Tour de France in the summer, so I knew about Detuning-Quick Step and that they were a special team.

"At the same time, I want to say a big thank you to everyone at Hagens Berman Axeon for believing in me and helping me become a better rider.