AN Abingdon School pupil has signed for a professional cycling team – just four years after taking up the sport.

Charlie Quartermain will spend the 2017 season riding for Leopard Pro Cycling, a Luxembourg-based outfit renowned for developing young talent.

It marks an astonishing rise for the 18-year-old, who was inspired to get into road racing by the London Olympics in 2012.

He said: “I’m very excited about joining Leopard Pro Cycling.

“It’s a team with a great reputation and a diverse calendar that will test me in a whole range of racing environments. There is a great support team and a good atmosphere with the mix of older and younger riders.

“I’m really looking forward to being in a solid team.

“In 2017 I want to learn how to ride in the U23 races, but I also will try to finish with a podium place.”

Quartermain came to Leopard’s attention with a series of impressive results this year for Oxford’s Zappi Racing Team.

It included a third place in September’s Giro di Basilicata in Italy, where he was only eight seconds behind the winner.

There were also strong results in two of Belgium’s top junior races, with fifth in the Omloop der Vlaamse Gewesten and sixth in the Grand Prix Bati-Metallo.