Alex Dowsett has signed a two-year contract extension at Israel Startup Nation. Dowsett, the reigning British time trial champion, will be aiming for the UCI Hour Record on December 12, and the news of the contract extension guarantees Dowsett's long-term future.

The 32-year-old Dowsett's contract expires at the end of this season, and in the fall he was candid about the difficulty of finding a team for 2021. With several WorldTour teams set to either cancel or downgrade their contracts for the upcoming season and a flooded market, Dowsett was not clear about his future.

But a stunning stage win at the Giro d'Italia in October reminded the cycling world of Dowsett's pedigree and the fact that he should not be pigeonholed as just a time trial specialist. Over the next two years, he will be putting in a variety of efforts to support the team's GC ambitions, not only in time trials, but also as part of the Israeli Startup Nation's lead-out train and in major stage races. Dowsett will also be at the heart of the team's time trial, passing on his valuable experience in this discipline.

Israel Startup Nation has signed several high-profile athletes for 2021. Chris Froome joins from Ineos Grenadiers and will be looking for his fifth Tour de France title next year. Patrick Bevin and Alessandro De Marchi join from the CCC team, while Michael Woods moves from EF Pro Cycling to lead the Grand Tour and one-day races. Karl-Fredrik Hagen moves from Lotto Soudal and Daryl Impey from Mitchelton-Scott to become the team's road captains. Sepp Vanmarcke has signed on to increase the team's cobblestone classic options.

"I'm very happy to remain with Israel Startup Nation for two more years," Dowsett told Cycling News. [It was a tough year, and the stage win at the Giro helped, but the phone didn't ring as often as everyone had hoped. Having Chris Froome on board has been huge.

"If you look at where this team was last year, then a year and a half later they are on pace to be one of the strongest teams on the World Tour. It's an incredible pace of progress and it's great to be a part of it. They were so much better in the Giro than the teams that had not yet found their footing in the Tour Down Under."

"The team has been very good in the Tour Down Under,"

and "they've been very good in the Giro.

In a statement released by the team, Dowsett said: "I really enjoy riding on the road with the team. I am often described as a time trial specialist and while time trials will forever be my favorite discipline, I feel that my strengths as a lead-out man are far more valuable to the team. I am very happy to be a part of it. This is what I am most looking forward to in the next two years."

"From the outside looking in, it is clear that ISN is one of the most exciting up-and-coming teams. Given the strength of next year's contracted players like Bevin, Vanmarcke, Woods, De Marchi, and of course Chris Froome, it's great to be a part of a team with comparable ambition. I will be a loyal supporter of them and the sprinters throughout the year. When my teammates win, it feels like a win for everyone.

"My personal ambition is to make history for the entire hemophilia community by being selected, competing, and winning a medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and I will soon be attempting the Hour Record, which I have wanted to do since I tried and succeeded in 2015."