Sepp Vanmarcke is leaving EF Pro Cycling to join Startup Nation in Israel in 2021.

Vanmarcke, 32, has signed a three-year contract and will lead the team in the spring classics.

He joins seven-time Grand Tour winner Chris Froome, Michael Woods, Daryl Impey, Carl Fredrik Hagen, Patrick Bevin, and Alessandro De Marchi, who have arrived at Startup Nation in Israel for 2021.

"With the combination of great riders already on the team and the big names who will be joining the team, they have created a strong group of riders for the next few years. I'm happy to be part of that group," Vanmarcke said.

"I can see how the team is growing. In just a few years we have gone from a small team to a World Tour team. Now that we have reached that level, we are setting higher goals. And so do I."

Vanmarcke leaves EF Pro Cycling after four years, six in total. He began his WorldTour career in 2011 when the Jonathan Vaughters team was known as Garmin-Cervélo, and then spent the next four years with the team now known as Jumbo Visma before returning in 2017.

Vanmarcke is a regular at the major cobbled classics, but the lack of fast sprint finishes means he has yet to win the big one that always seemed within reach: in 2012 he won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but since then has either finished on the podium or fifth He has been stuck on the podium or in the top five.

"He has a lot of experience," Kjell Carlström, manager of Israel Startup Nation, said of Vanmarcke.

"He is a great classic rider, but he has also proven that he can support the leaders in the Grand Tours. He also does time trials, so it's the perfect package."

Vanmarcke will also find Belgian national coach Rick Verbrugghe, who will join the Israeli Startup Nation as director next year, working with sport director Eric Van Lancker, whom he rode with at Garmin in 2012. It is unclear whether Sepp's brother, Ken Vanmarcke, will stay on as director of EF Pro Cycling or move on.

"He is strong in the Flanders Classic and will be our leader," Van Lancker said.

"He is a player who can go to the top and will definitely get all our help to succeed. I look forward to working with him again."

Vanmarcke is the ninth Israeli Startup Nation player signed for 2021, joining Froome, Woods, Impey, Bevin, De Marchi, Hagen, and neo-pros Taj Jones and Sebastian Berwick.

EF Pro Cycling moved both Vanmarcke and Woods to Israel, but Alberto Bettiol extended his contract and will lead the Classic alone.

The American team also said goodbye to Daniel Martinez (Ineos Grenadiers) and Tanel Kangert (Mitchelton Scott). They have previously announced the signing of Japanese rider Hideto Nakane from Nippo Delcoin Provence.