After weeks of rumours and speculation, Movistar have announced the signing of Mikel Landa from Team Sky for the 2018 season.
The 27-year-old will join the Spanish team on a two-year deal from the start of next season, having spent two years at Team Sky.
"It's great news for us," said Movistar general manager Eusebio Unzué. "Being still a young rider and with everything that he's shown, he should be the rider who leads Spanish cycling for the next few years."
After a slightly disappointing 2016 season where he failed to finish the Giro d'Italia, Landa has enjoyed more success in 2017 including fourth place at the recent Tour de France.
He also won the mountains classification at the Giro d'Italia after his GC hopes were scuppered by a crash with a motorbike, and most recently won two stages and the overall at the Vuelta a Burgos.
After speaking of his frustration at having to sacrifice his own chances for Chris Froome, Landa will now join a Movistar team where Nairo Quintana has a contract until the end of 2019, raising questions about who will lead the team at the 2018 Tour de France.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Primož Roglič secures Volta a Catalunya title as Remco Evenepoel claims final stage
Slovenian wins overall by six seconds on stage seven in Barcelona
-
Remco Evenepoel sends verbal warning to his 'idol' Primož Roglič after quadruple Volta a Catalunya showdown
It's 2-1 to Roglič after a neck-and-neck fight at the Volta a Catalunya, but Evenepoel isn't short of confidence
-
Women’s WorldTour calendar 'a mess' and 'a nonsense' says Movistar boss
The UCI must invest in the bottom of the pyramid to ensure the sport’s future says Sebastián Unzué
-
Movistar quick to quash Mark Cavendish signing report
Italian press speculation over future of sprinter denied by Spanish team
-
Van Vleuten confirms her superiority with Ceratizit Challenge GC victory
Elisa Balsamo takes the final stage bunch kick on the Madrid circuit after consummate work from Trek-Segafredo
-
Silvia Persico takes Ceratizit Challenge stage victory after a tense aggressive final
Olympic champion Anna Kiesenhofer comes close to pulling off a repeat of her Tokyo triumph with a 158km solo break
-
Van Vleuten in a class of her own winning the second stage of the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta
The Movistar rider attacked on the penultimate climb dropping all her rivals to take the overall lead with three stages remaining
-
Attack to defend: Van Vleuten on the edge of Tour de France greatness
Anything can happen, say Movistar but he team are confident Annemiek van Vleuten will ride into history on Sunday’s final Tour de France Femmes stage
-
The mountains are coming: Tour de France Femmes favourites predict what's going to happen
Riders predict Saturday’s seventh stage will be the toughest of the race, but GC will be decided on Sunday at Super Planche des Belles Filles
-
Van Vleuten confirms her third Giro Donne victory
The Dutch rider finishes safely in the bunch while Chiara Consonni takes the final stage
