Dan Martin agrees two-year deal with Etixx-QuickStep

Ireland's Dan Martin has agreed a two-year contract to ride for Etixx-QuickStep, the Belgian team has announced.

The 29-year-old Birmingham-born cyclist will ride for Etixx-QuickStep in 2016 and 2017, having ridden for Cannondale-Garmin this year.

Martin's biggest victory to date was in the 2013 Liege-Bastogne-Liege one-day race and he also won a stage in the 2013 Tour de France and 2011 Vuelta a Espana.

"The arrival of Dan Martin is an important moment for the team," Etixx-QuickStep chief executive Patrick Lefevere said.

“He’s a guy who was able in the past to win one-day races, but also stage races. He has also been a GC (general classification) contender at grand tours during his career.

“He is at the peak of his career and we are excited to see what he can do with an Etixx-QuickStep jersey on his back for the next two years.”

Martin said: “I’m really excited to join the team, which has been a point of reference in cycling for years.

“I hope to be able to take the next step in my career with Etixx-QuickStep.”

Mark Cavendish is contracted to Etixx-QuickStep until the end of 2015, but there is no news on whether the 26-time Tour stage winner will be staying, suggesting a departure is likely. Cavendish has been linked with MTN-Qhubeka and Trek.