Welsh cycling prospect Steve Williams has taken the next step towards the pro ranks by joining top team Bahrain Merida.

The Aberystwyth-born rider has got the call-up after his impressive form this season including finishing fifth at the Under23 Giro d’Italia.

Williams will join as a stagiaire – an amateur who joins a professional team – from next month for the rest of 2018 before becoming a neo-pro or first-year professional next year.

Bahrain Merida are one of cycling’s top teams and are currently chasing Tour de France glory with Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali.

The move could see Williams – regarded as a top climber – become the next Welsh rider to compete in the world’s greatest cycle race

The 22-year-old said: “I’m so happy to be joining Bahrain Merida, this is the perfect team for me to learn and develop as a young climber.

“I’m really excited and can’t wait to start racing with the team. I’m over the moon to be turning pro and moving to the highest level of cycling.

“This will give me the opportunity to race the biggest races in the world. I’ve looked up to Vincenzo Nibali for a number of years now, and to be able to race along side him for the next years is something special for me”.

Williams recently won a mountain stage at the Baby Giro spending a day in the leader’s pink jersey before finishing fifth overall.

He also won the Rode de L’Isard stage race in the Pyrenees in early May.

Bahrain Merida’s General Manager Brent Copeland said:“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Stephen Williams to the team.

“Young talented riders like Stevie are a very important part of our teams strategy.

“We have been watching him for a while now and his talent was confirmed with the two mountain stages at the Giro Baby where he impressed us all.

“Together with the technical staff we have closely looked at where Stevie will fit in with our team and we feel he will find the perfect place to start his professional career where he will get our full support.

“SEG racing academy have been doing a fantastic job at giving the U23 riders these opportunities and we thank them for there collaboration and support on this.

“We excited and looking forward to Stevie having some racing with us also in the next few months as a stagiaire”.