On the day one Australian cycling champion called time on his career, another’s was just taking off with Flakemore joining the US-registered team that Evans represented in 2011 when he became the first Aussie to win the Tour de France.

BMC announced three new rider signings yesterday, with American Joey Rosskopf and Italian Manuel Senni joining Flakemore who had been optimistic of landing a WorldTour contract after claiming a rainbow jersey in his final year before joining the senior ranks.

At the road world titles in Spain four days ago, the Hobart 22-year-old became the fourth Australian to win the under-23 individual time trial in the past six years, joining Jack Bobridge (2009), Luke Durbridge (2011) and Damian Howson (2013).

His half-a-second margin of victory over Ireland’s Ryan Mullan was the closest finish in the history of the event after overcoming a 20-second deficit in the final 13kilometres of the 36.1-km race.

BMC said it was delighted to secure the services of the time trial specialist who arrives from Andrew Christie-Johnston’s Hobart-based Avanti Racing Team.

Flakemore was similarly pleased, knowing he will be teaming up with riders of the calibre of Belgium’s former world champion Philippe Gilbert, American Tejay van Garderen and fellow Australian Rohan Dennis.

‘‘I think I can learn a lot from those guys,’’ he said.

‘‘My priority for next year is to get experience and learn how it all works in a WorldTour team. I want to learn as much as possible.’’

Flakemore has been a member of Cycling Australia’s World Tour Academy along with Launceston’s Alex Clements. 

He won the prologue of the Tour de l’Avenir this year and was the winner of the individual time trial stage at last year’s Olympia Tour and the under-23 edition of Thüringen-Rundfahrt.

BMC general manager Jim Ochowicz said all three signings fit the team’s initiative to identify promising young riders who can develop and eventually play integral roles for the squad.

‘‘He adds significant value to our team in his specialty, which are time trials,’’ Ochowicz said.

‘‘We are always on the lookout for the best of the best and these three riders will certainly play a part in our future.’’

Ochowicz said  Flakemore, Senni, 22, and Rosskopf, 25, will complement the signings of Stefan Küng, of Switzerland, and Belgian Dylan Teuns, both  raced for  BMC development team this season.