Dominique Mayho will step up to the top level of amateur cycling in Belgium after joining Asfra Racing Team Oudenaarde.

Mayho was approached by Asfra Racing in May last year after his maiden win in Belgium in the Moerbeke 112-kilometres road race for amateur outfit Jonge Rakkers Vollezele.

He believes the move will boost his chances of success at the NatWest Island Games in Gotland, Sweden, in June when he will defend his gold medal in the men’s Individual Town Centre Criterium.

“After I won the [Moerbeke 112km] race I stopped at a bike shop where the Asfra Racing sports director [Luc Assez] works,” Mayho said.

“He approached me and asked if I was racing again this year and whether I’d like to join his team. Things progressed from there.

“They are a bigger team [than Jonge Rakkers Vollezele] and I will be able to compete in bigger races and hopefully get more [financial] support.”

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a sun-kissed pre-season, training in Tucson, Arizona, and Mallorca, Spain, ahead of his latest challenge. He will leave for East Flanders on April 10 to join up with his new team-mates.

“I’m looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and can’t wait to start racing in the bigger races — it should be fun,” said Mayho, who will compete in road races and stage races for Asfra Racing.

“I’m feeling strong and fit, but I’m just a little nervous about the speed. Last year it took me about two weeks to start feeling good in the races.”

Mayho, who overcame a snapped chain to win the National Mountain Bike Championships at Ferry Reach last weekend, aims to peak for the Island Games which are his number one priority this season.

Aside from winning the Individual Town Centre Criterium, Mayho finished nineteenth in the Individual Time-Trial and a disappointing twentieth in the Individual Road Race.

“The Island Games will be my biggest goal for the year,” said Mayho, who will race in the Winners Edge Road Race this weekend.

“I want to repeat doing well in the criterium and I need to do better in the road race. I need to prove that to myself.”

With a talented crop of teenage riders such as Matthew Oliveira, Kaden Hopkins and Alyssa Rowse following in his slipstream, Mayho hopes his overseas exploits can inspire the trio to chase their cycling dreams.

“Bermuda have had some good cyclists before me like Tyler Butterfield,” Mayho said.

“But when he moved back to triathlon I had to find my own way. Now I know how to do it and I was talking to Matthew the other day, telling him that I can help him out if he wants to race overseas one day.

“I’ve built up some contacts in Belgium and hopefully I can inspire the other guys coming through.”