He becomes the first British rider to ride full-time with the long-established, Belgian lottery-backed team since current British champion Adam Blythe left in 2011 and only the third since the team formed in 1995 – Charly Wegelius being the other.

And Shaw hopes, after enjoying his first taste of riding with a WorldTour team, the next few years will help shape him as a rider.

Shaw is one of the riders proving the British Cycling Academy Programme is not the only pathway to success for a young Brit, and becomes the latest Dave Rayner Fund recipient to step up to the top tier, having been given a chance to ride abroad by the charity.

And Lotto-Soudal team manager Marc Sergeant is excited by Shaw’s talent, having been impressed by his work at the Tour of Britain.

“He participated in the Tour of Britain and in a race of that level you immediately know what someone is worth,” Sergeant said.

“James did very well during that race and the team was very satisfied. He mainly had a supporting role and that will also be the case next year.”