Simon Geschke joins Cofidis in France as part of a support network led by Guillaume Martin.

Geschke, 34, spent the past two seasons with the CCC team, which will disband this year and transfer its World Tour license to Circus Wanty.

Geschke played a key role in Tom Dumoulin's victory at the 2017 Giro d'Italia, and his main role on the French team will be to support Martin, who finished 11th overall in this year's Tour de France.

"I am really looking forward to joining the team. It is a turning point in my career and I can greet this new chapter with enthusiasm," Geschke said.

"With Guillaume Martin, Cofidis has a very strong leader who has already proven his talent. I want to help him in the most difficult and most fun races. I like to fight for my team. You don't always see it on TV, but that's what I like best. Cofidis is a venerable team with a great history in cycling. I can't wait for next season." [Prior to joining the CCC team, Geschke spent 10 years with the Sunweb team before turning pro in 2009, with 15 Grand Tour appearances and three wins, culminating with a stage win in the 2015 Tour de France in Pla-Rous.

"I know that to be successful on the road at the Tour de France, I need a strong and experienced rider to support Guillaume Marin in the mountains. Simon will provide exactly that," said Cofidis boss Cédric Vasseur. [He] will be the second Cofidis rider, after Elia Viviani, who knows how to win the Tour de France. He has contributed to the success of Tom Dumoulin and Warren Barguil in the past. Simon intends to do the same to help Guillaume Martin to victory."

Geschke joins Cofidis following former Tour de Lavenir winner Ruben Fernandez to support Martin. The French team also added Jelle Wallaise from Lotto Soudal, Tom Bohli from UAE Team Emirates, Remy Rochas from Nippo Delco One Provence, Andre Carvalho from Hagens Bellman Axiom, and neo-pro Thomas Champion. In addition. They also greeted Luis Angel Mate (Fundación Orbea), Cyril Lemoine (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept), and Damien Touze (AG2R La Mondiale).