Alex Dowsett to leave Movistar for Katusha-Alpecin in 2018

Alex Dowsett will leave Movistar after five years and join Katusha-Alpecin for the 2018 season.

The Briton's future has been up in the air for some time, particularly as he missed out on Movistar selection for all three Grand Tours for 2018, but he will now join Katusha as part of their team overhaul for 2018.

>>> Cycling transfers 2018: All the ins and outs from the WorldTour

Katusha have already added Marcel Kittel from Quick-Step, Ian Boswell from Team Sky and Nathan Haas from Dimension Data as part of their new look squad. Current lead sprinter Alexander Kristoff will leave the outfit to join UAE Team Emirates.

Dowsett is now confirmed as the latest signing, and the 28-year-old says he's excited to get started.

“It’s so exciting for me to join this team," Dowsett said. "I had five amazing seasons with Movistar but it is time for a change and I look forward to joining Team Katusha-Alpecin.”

“Every team has a different approach and I feel I can learn a lot. The nice thing for me is that I can stay on the phenomenal Canyon bikes. They were such a huge sponsor for me in the last years, and in my opinion, it’s the best bike.

“I will continue to focus on my time trial but also all other races, especially stage races, including the Grand Tours, are important for me," he continued.

"I know that I will get my chances but I am ready to be a good domestique. In my period with Team Sky, I was one of the riders to protect Mark Cavendish and bring him to the last kilometre.

Watch: Dr Hutch meets Alex Dowsett

"I hope to do the same now with Marcel Kittel. I am good in positioning other riders in the sprint, but also on the climbs.”

Despite missing out on selection for the three-week tours in 2017, Dowsett has scored his career best results in Movistar colours, including a time trial stage win in the 2013 Giro d'Italia.

He also broke the Hour Record in 2015 with the help of the Spanish team, as well as an overall stage race win at the Bayern

Rundfahrt in the same year.

And it's that stage race overall potential that Katusha say they will try and nurture in Dowsett in his time with the team, using his time trial ability to give him the advantage.

“Alex is one of the best time trial riders in the professional peloton. We see nice opportunities with him to bring horse power to the team in the team time trials,” team manager José Azevedo said.

“Moreover, because of his TT skills, he is able to win stage races, as he has proved already in the past. Alex is still young but he has a lot of experience. I have a good feeling about him.”