The Ineos Grenadiers have acquired another young player for 2023. Canadian teenager Michael Leonard is the newest addition to the rejuvenated British team.

The 18-year-old from Toronto will skip the U23s and turn pro at the World Tour level in 2023, signing a three-year deal.

Leonard, who has experience on the track and can climb and time trial, is expected to make his mark in the Grand Tours, joining a team that has won 12 Grand Tours since it started in 2010.

"I'm very excited about this because the people at Ineos Grenadiers, who know a lot about cycling and GC riders, have indicated that they think I have that potential in the future," he said.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to learn at what I think is the best team in terms of both riders and staff. The Grenadiers have a lot of experience winning big races, so I get to learn from the best.

Leonard, along with Josh Tarling, who won the Junior World Time Trial title this week, is the second rider to skip U23 to turn pro at Ineos in 2023, Carlos Rodriguez, who recently finished 7th at the Vuelta a España Follow in the footsteps of 2020.

"I watched Chris Froome when I was younger and I look up to Carlos Rodriguez in my current team. He has followed a similar path to my dreams and is really breaking out this year," Leonard added. 'It will be great to follow in his footsteps.'

Leonard is currently with the Italian Franco Ballerini Junior Team and has won eight races so far this year, including the Tour du Leman, Memorial Paolo Battignani, Gran Premio Bermac Gara, and Trofeo Sopeg.

"Michael's profile is really interesting and appears to have real potential. He is very mature for his age and the fact that he has already spent a lot of time racing in Europe is really important," said Rod Ellingworth, Ineos' deputy team principal.

"The fact that he respects someone like Carlos also bodes well for us. We look forward to working with him and further developing his obvious potential. He joins a young but very exciting group of riders and has the potential to play a major role in our future."

Leonard is the sixth newcomer for Ineos Grenadiers and the third neo-pro along with Tarling and U23 Giro Champion Leo Hayter. Also joining the team are 22-year-old Tymen Arenceman from DSM and 26-year-old Connor Swift from Arkea Samsic. [Rodriguez, Tom Pidcock, Luke Plapp, Magnus Sheffield, and the Hayter brothers are seen as the future of the team. Richard Kalapas will go to EF Education Easy Post, Adam Yates to UAE Team Emirates, Dylan van Baar to Jumbo Visma, and Richie Porte will retire.