Former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior believes his One Pro Cycling team are ahead of schedule in their bid to compete in the world's biggest cycling races and told SNTV on Thursday (11 February) that he has ambitions to compete at the Tour de France.

SOUNDBITE (English) Matt Prior, Founder and CEO of One Pro Cycling (on the ambition to gain a World Tour licence in the future):

"Yeah, right from the outset we stated that this team was very ambitious and go all the way to the top. We want to be involved in the big events, the Grand Tours, the World Tour. That hasn't changed. That's still our ambition. Things have moved very quickly from the start. There might be a time when we take a little stop and re-group and take it all in but without a shadow of a doubt right now we're just pushing forward and trying to make as many steps forward as we can. We would love to be able to step up to the World Tour in 2017. That's the aim. We've always said it's important to dream big. If we can make that step then that's for us to go and do and work hard. That's certainly the desire and ambition. We're now in the process of trying to make that happen."

SOUNDBITE (English) Matt Prior, Founder and CEO of One Pro Cycling (on wanting to compete in a Grand Tour):

"That is the ultimate motivation. And I've had that experience when I was a 12-year-old dreaming of one day playing cricket for England. You always dream about the big events, you dream about in the Ashes or in a Boxing Day test at the MCG in front of 100,000 people. Those are the events that really get you going. That's why you get up at six in the morning and challenge yourself to work as hard as you can, to push forward and achieve those dreams and goals. Without a shadow of a doubt, One Pro Cycling being involved in the Tour de France or any Grand Tour would be the ultimate highlight. That's why we're working as hard as we are and trying to produce something that is hugely professional. Everyone involved is hugely passionate about One Pro Cycling as well. I think that's important."