British revelation Joe Blackmore set to stay with Israel-Premier Tech

Outside of the upper echelons of cycling, one name has been consistently cropping up in the lower-level races of this season: Joe Blackmore.

Riding for the Israel-Premier Tech Academy team, but making frequent sojourns into the ProTeam roster, Blackmore has won every stage race he’s started this season, with victories at the Tour du Rwanda, Tour de Taiwan and the Circuit des Ardennes.

On Saturday, the 21-year-old added to his winning streak – and the hype around his name – by winning the under-23 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, one of the biggest one-day races on the U23 calendar.

With such clear potential, it seems likely that several professional teams may have been looking at recruiting Blackmore, but according to DirectVelo, the Brit has already signed for Israel’s ProTeam for 2025 and 2026.

No public announcement has been made about the contract, but DirectVelo reported the news after speaking to Israel-Premier Tech Academy DS Rik Verbrugghe.

“It's normal given what he shows,” Verbrugghe told DirectVelo after Saturday's race.

“He is a very intelligent rider despite his little experience. Last year, with all his top-10s in so few races, we quickly understood that he was a talent.”

Given his results, Blackmore started Liège as a big favourite, but managed to deal with the target on his back and battle to the win with a late solo attack.

“I’m felling super good, tired, but happy,” he said after the race. “I was able to chill at the back for the first half of the race and the guys made it hard on the climbs which was the plan. When I was in a reduced group, towards the end, Visma-Lease a Bike were strong with numbers in the group, but we played some good tactics. Once we hit the final climb together, I was ready to attack.

"I was pretty tired, but I waited until the top of the climb to make my move so I could see how tired the other guys were. I gave it my all. It came pretty close in the final kilometer with Orins coming back strong. But, I found some more energy from somewhere and was able to hold on.”

Prior to his Liège-Bastogne-Liège victory, Blackmore had ridden his first one-day race with the ProTeam, competing in Brabantse Pijl, where he finished fourth whilst helping his teammate Dylan Teuns to second, adding to a very special week for the British rider.

"I’m happy with every race I win but with the history of this race, I am really happy to win here. The last seven days have just been incredible," he said. Next up is Gent-Wevelgem [U23] and I’ll give it everything again there.”

With such strong showings so far, it is likely that Blackmore will be given some more opportunities to race alongside the senior team this season,

“He had to do more races with the second team but given what he is showing, he should do more races with the ProTeam,” Verbrugghe confirmed.

Primarily a mountain biker, Blackmore only started racing on the road at UCI level in 2023, which he did with the British Cycling set-up, and quickly earned himself a spot on Israel’s development team, even if he had to be “convinced” to race more road.

Despite skipping the opening rounds in Brazil, Blackmore is expected to race some of the Mountain Bike World Cups this season as he balances his road ambitions against his final years in the U23 ranks off-road.

With several big wins and a neo-pro contract under his belt, Blackmore will return to mountain biking with boosted confidence.

“I always race to win, anyway,” he said.