Friday 28 August 2015 15:01, UK
Ireland’s Dan Martin will join Etixx – Quick-Step from Cannondale-Garmin next season on a two-year contract.
The 29-year-old has spent his entire professional career with the Garmin set-up, having joined as a trainee in 2007.
He has gone on to win Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Il Lombardia, the Volta a Catalunya, Tour of Poland and a stage of the Tour de France.
Martin said: "I hope to be able to take the next step in my career with Etixx – Quick-Step. I think I am entering an important moment of my career at my age.
"My season will be built around the Ardennes classics, where I can join forces with [Julian] Alaphilippe.
"I also would like to do well in the stage races and maybe try again once in a grand tour for a good classification. I think I have potential to be a factor in the grand tours, whether it be stage hunting or in the overall classification."
Etixx – Quick-Step chief executive officer Patrick Lefevere said: "The arrival of Dan Martin is an important moment for the team. He is a guy who was able in the past to win one-day races, but also stage races. He has also been a GC contender at grand tours during his career.
"He is now 29 years old, so he is at the peak of his career. For the team this is also a key addition because Martin can be a presence in the Ardennes Classics, alongside young French rider Julian Alaphilippe. This can be a bit of an Ardennes 'dynamic duo'."
Martin is the second big-name departure from Cannondale-Garmin announced this week, after Ryder Hesjedal signed for Trek Factory Racing.
