Marcus Ljungqvist leaves role as Team Sky sports director

Marcus Ljungqvist has left his role as Team Sky's directeur sportif to spend time away from cycling, the squad announced on Tuesday morning. Ljungqvist is the second DS to depart from the British-based team inside a month after Dan Hunt announced a move to become Premier League football head of elite performance in November after a year at Sky.

"After almost 20 years on the road hopefully I can now spend more time at home with my family. That is my main aim at the moment," Ljungqvist said in a team statement.

"I will miss working with the team and I'm leaving such a great group of people. Becoming a sports director and joining Team Sky was a big challenge. But having the chance to be there from the very beginning, and then for the team to go on and be successful and win the Tour de France twice, is something I will take with me."

Sky performance manager Rod Ellingworth said of Ljungqvist's departure: "Marcus has done a great job during his time with Team Sky. He came in from the outset and helped us build this team.

"We all enjoyed some great moments together and I hope that he can take a lot of what he's learned here into whatever he does next. He will certainly be missed by everyone at the team and we'd all like to thank Marcus for his hard work and wish him all the best in the future."

Dan Frost has been appointed as new DS at the team, and the Dane has already joined riders and staff at the squad's winter training base in Mallorca. Frost, 52, is a former track cyclist, and won a gold medal in the points race at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul as well as the points race world title in 1986.

"Joining the team will be a new experience. I know a few of the riders and staff, plus of course I have seen everyone first-hand at the races and understand their skills. There is plenty for me to learn here but I am excited to get the season under way," said Frost.