Roger Hammond joins Dimension Data as sports director

"I am very excited to be joining this fantastic project," Hammond said on his appointment.

"With so many ex-team mates or managers within the team it feels like I’m returning to my family. Cycling has been so influential in the path my life has taken and the rich experiences I have enjoyed along the way.

Roger Hammond will join new recruit Mark Cavendish at Team Dimension Data for 2016 as a sports director, a job that he will undertake alongside his current role as manager with British squad Madison-Genesis.

Hammond has worked with the Madison team since 2012, and will also join the African squad (currently still MTN-Qhubeka) for next season with the likeliness that they'll step-up to WorldTour level.

>>> Mark Cavendish to coach young Madison-Genesis riders

The 41-year-old, twice a national road champion, is one of Britain's most successful ever Classics riders, recording third and fourth place finishes in Paris-Roubaix, as well as a second place finish at Ghent-Wevelgem.

It will mean that the former pro's experience, particularly as a Classics specialist, will play a particularly prominent role in the team's efforts during the spring period in 2016.

"To be part of this project that not only focusses on giving riders the chance to achieve their dreams competitively but – by supporting Qhubeka – also giving children the chance of an education through the medium of the bike was an opportunity not to be missed."

The newly named Dimension Data team have been busy in the transfer market in the off-season, bringing in, as well as Cavendish, the likes of Bernhard Eisel, Mark Renshaw and Kanstantsin Siutsou as riders and Rolf Aldag as part of their management staff.