Team Sky has appointed former professional cyclist Matteo Tosatto as a sports director. The Italian starts work for the team at the Tour of Poland, commencing on Saturday.

Tosatto retired from pro cycling at the end of the 2016 season, after six years with the Tinkoff/Saxo Bank team. Prior to that, he rode with the Quick-Step and Fassa Bortolo teams in a career that spanned 20 years.

The British WorldTour squad’s appointment of Tosatto signals the 43-year-old’s first job in the team car.

“My first impressions of the team are that it’s a really incredible group and the detail and organisation is very impressive,” Tosatto said on www.teamsky.com.

“To be able to work for the best team in the world is a great feeling. Naturally I’m very excited to go to my first race as a sports director and this is the best opportunity for me after my career as a pro cyclist.”

According to Tosatto, he was working for the team’s bike brand Pinarello at the Giro d’Italia in May when he met with Sky principal Dave Brailsford and discussed the position.

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Initially, Tosatto will join existing Sky sports director Gabriel Rasch at the seven-day Tour of Poland (July 29 to August 4). Prior to this, Tosatto has already joined the team at the Route du Sud and at a training camp in June.

“Originally I had hoped to continue riding for one more year, but in the end it became clear that this was the time to stop and try something new,” said Tosatto.

“I was working at the Giro d’Italia for Pinarello and it was there that I was able to speak to Dave Brailsford a few times, and we had some conversations about working together.”

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He continued: “I raced against Team Sky a lot and I could see easily what an impressive team they are and how the team are always racing for the highest objectives. That is what I want to do too, so now for me it’s really exciting to be part of the team.”

As a rider, Tosatto won a stage of the 2006 Tour de France and a stage of the 2001 Giro among his 34 appearances in Grand Tours. He also rode in 50 Monuments, and so brings a wealth of experience to Sky from two decades of competing at the highest level.