Individual pursuit world record holder Ashton Lambie joins Derby-based track team Huub-Wattbike

Ashton Lambie, the former gravel biker who stunned the track cycling world in September when he broke the individual pursuit world record, has signed for Derby-based squad Huub Wattbike – formerly known as Team KGF.

Riding at the Pan-American Regional Championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Lambie set a time of 4:07.25 to take 3 seconds off the record held by Australia’s Jack Bobridge since 2011.

The 27-year-old takes the place of Harry Tanfield in the squad, with the British rider now focusing on the road with Katusha-Alpecin.

He joins an outfit that have also made waves in the velodrome this year, beating off international opposition to win the gold medal at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Belarus in January.

> Track Cycling World Cup gold medallists returned to find their Derby home had been broken into

Former gravel biker Lambie said: “With an open December on USA Cycling’s schedule, I’m excited to join Huub Wattbike for the next few months.

“Coming from a very different cycling background, I’ve always admired their unique approach to the team pursuit. I’m glad to have this opportunity and look forward to racing with them in Europe.”

Lambie will ride with the team at the forthcoming rounds of the World Cup in Berlin and London as they look to improve on their recent second place to Denmark in Milton, Canada – a performance that saw them better the time of the Great Britain Cycling Team.

Team principal Dan Bigham commented: “Securing Ashton for this critical race block was quite a coup. He clearly has some mad gas: you can’t fluke a world record!

“I’m looking forward to seeing how much of an impact he can make on the team and how we can best utilise his skill-set.

“It will also be great to help his development as both an individual and team pursuiter, applying our knowledge and techniques.”

The story of Team KGF’s stunning 2017/18 season is the subject of a documentary by James Poole that was released in October.

> Video: Documentary tells the story of Team KGF, the amateur riders who conquered the world