The eight-man Cycling Development Team, which includes 19-year-old Guy Leshem, the Israeli junior national champion, will compete in some of the world’s top U23 UCI races, including the Paris Roubaix, Giro Del Valle d’Aosta and Giro d’Italia.

Team manager Ran Margaliot said: “This is an investment, not only in our future, but in the future of Israeli cycling.

“We took not only road cyclists, but also several great mountain bikers. We see ourselves responsible to support and guide those young Israeli talents. We want to give them the opportunity to make it to the highest levels of the professional cycling world.”