Lawson Craddock has renewed his contract with EF Education First for another two years, which will keep the 27-year-old American with the US WorldTour team until at least 2021.

Craddock recently finished sixth in the time trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire, along with solid performances at the Tour of Utah and Vuelta a España, and is looking strong for the second half of 2019.

"EF is a great place for me to continue to grow," said Craddock, who hails from USA Cycling's development program and Axel Merckx's U23 team. Craddock signed his first neo-pro contract with Giant-Alpecin (now Team Sunweb) and moved to Jonathan Vaughters' Slipstream program in 2016.

"I feel I'm in a great position in terms of my role within the team. I've stepped into the domestic role a little more than I have in the past, and I've actually found it to be a lot of fun." I've had a few opportunities to race for myself in the second half of the season.

Craddock crashed in the first stage of the 2018 Tour de France and broke his shoulder blade. He rode 20 more stages, eventually finishing last, more than four and a half hours behind winner Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos), but used the publicity from his three-week fight to raise nearly $400,000 for the local Houston velodrome.

Craddock missed the EF Education First selection to this year's Tour de France, but according to Vaughters, the team is moving the rider in a new direction away from long stage races.

"Lawson had a really underachieving year," Vaughters said. "I thought he could develop into a top-10 rider over the three weeks of the Grand Tour. I was training him for that, but I don't think it was the right decision for him. Now he is focused on getting into the breakaway, time trials, and helping his teammates. He is where he should be in the sport right now.

"Lawson has been a great part of this program since he came to us. He didn't make the Tour team this year, but he rode great in the Vuelta and World Championships later in the season.

"I'm really proud of him for that kind of attitude. He is a rider who makes tough decisions and comes back from them even stronger.

Craddock embraced the new direction, especially the focus on time trials, finishing sixth at the Yorkshire World Championships, fourth in the 10th stage time trial of the Vuelta in September, sixth in the opening stage time trial of the Tour de Suisse in June, and Paris-Nice time trial in March. He finished seventh in the Paris-Nice time trial in March.

"I've been able to put a lot of effort into the time trial and that has proven to be the case this year, and I'm looking forward to working hard in the TT to see what I can do."

"My other ambitions for next year are for races like the Amstel Gold Race. I had a good race this year helping Clarkie (Simon Clark) finish second, and I would like to try the Amstel Gold Race again next year, whether it's helping the team or taking a chance for myself. I also want to represent the U.S. on the Olympic team."

"I am very excited to be back in the U.S., and I am looking forward to the next year.