Daryl Impey has signed a two-year contract with Israel Startup Nation and will join the team as Chris Froome's road captain for next year's Tour de France.

As Cyclingnews reported last month, Impey had to choose between re-signing with his current team, Mitchelton Scott, or moving to Israel Startup Nation, where the team is looking for an experienced The team was looking for an experienced Grand Tour rider who could support Froome in the Tour.

"I decided to start fresh. I feel I need to step out of my comfort zone at Mitchelton-Scott. I have had great success with the team, made many strong friendships and created some great memories. I can't thank them enough for helping me get to this point in my career," Impey said in a press release issued by his team.

Impy, 35, has been with Mitchelton-Scott since 2012 and has become one of its most loyal and successful riders. He won a stage at the Tour de France, wore the yellow jersey, and won back-to-back Tour Down Under titles in 2018 and 2019. But it was his skills as a road captain and his versatile traits on the flat and in the mountains that attracted the Israeli Startup Nation.

Mitchelton Scott had hoped until last week that Impey would re-sign with them and fulfill his career, but the prospect of a new challenge has led the South African to a role with Froome's new team.

"It certainly wasn't an easy decision. But it's exciting to work with a new team, new energy, new ambitions," Impey said.

"The most decisive reason is the challenge that awaits me at ISN; after speaking with ISN co-owner Sylvain Adams and the team management, I felt they saw a different side of me as a bike rider. There will be leadership opportunities, and as team captain, I will be given greater responsibility as well as greater challenges.

"Team ISN has risen through the ranks very quickly. I intend to use my experience of the past decade to instill that in the younger players and make sure we are constantly progressing. I'm excited."

After both Froome and Impey hit the road together at Barloworld in 2009, the British rider moved to Team Sky and Impey signed with Lance Armstrong's Radioshack. South African-born Impey spent a year with Team MTN Cubeca and Team NetApp before moving to Mitchelton Scott (then Orica GreenEdge). His abiding friendship with Froom also played a role in his decision to change direction.

"It's not every day you get to race with one of the greats in the sport, so when Chris called me and said he trusted me and wanted to be by his side, I appreciated it and knew he meant it. He and I have known each other for a long time and our careers have almost come full circle. We started together at Barloworld and continued at ISN. I know he can win another Tour de France, and it's great to not only be part of that team, but to play an important role."

Analysis

The move from Impy's Mitchelton Scott to Israel Startup Nation has been in the works for several weeks. In the meantime, the sponsorship issues surrounding the Australian team appear to have eased, and Jerry Ryan has promised that all of the team's registered players will have contract offers for the next two years.

His contract is significant for the Israeli start-up state. In order to genuinely support Froome in the Tour de France, the team lacks depth in many departments, and while the team will be looking for climbers and time trial specialists in the transfer market, the position of experienced road captain cannot be overlooked.

Impy's versatility outside of the grueling Grand Tour climbs will be an important asset for Froome, who will need help in shaping his team for 2021. The addition of Karl Fredrik Hagen has already been announced, but the addition of Impey is a major coup for the team, given that more climbers will be joining the team.