Marc Hirschi leaves Team DSM with immediate effect

Swiss rider Marc Hirschi has had his contract with Team DSM terminated with immediate effect, the team has announced. The 22-year-old leaves his contract with the former Sunweb squad a year early to join a yet to be known team for 2021, in a hugely surprising move.

He is being strongly linked with UAE Team Emirates by numerous reports, where he'd join the 2020 Tour de France Tadej Pogačar in the team's line-up, as well as their other new signings for 2021 Matteo Trentin and Rafał Majka.

Hirschi won La Flèche Wallonne along with two stages of the Tour de France in 2020, as well as the Tour's most combative rider award and third place at the World Championships road race.

In a team statement, Team DSM said: "Team DSM has reached a settlement agreement with their rider Marc Hirschi to terminate their present employment before the original end date of 31 December 2021. It has been agreed that the agreement will be terminated with immediate effect and that no further comments will be made.

"Marc Hirschi experienced in 2020 a breakthrough season with some amazing highlights. Hirschi and the team brought home some great wins; a stage in the Tour de France and Fleche Wallonne. An exciting 2nd place in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and a podium finish at the Road World Championships (3rd) were a further display of the great season which youngster Hirschi experienced in 2020.

"Team DSM wishes Marc Hirschi all the best for the continuation of his career and expresses its gratitude for what Marc Hirschi has contributed to the team."