With more signings to come, Israel’s Cycling Academy is building a very strong team towards its World Tour aims.
USA National Time Trial champion Max Korus, 27, is making aliyah and turning professional for Israel’s team. He joins four other champions for the 2016 roster that includes Israeli Road winner Guy Sagiv and 2014 champion Guy Gabay.
Dan Craven, Namibia’s national champion, is a familiar figure in the UK, having won events here for Rapha-Condor before moving to Team Europcar.
“Dan will be by far the oldest rider in a very young roster,” explained Nicki Sorenson, the Academy’s new Head Sports Director. “He will bring to the team his vast experience and knowledge.”
Canadian national champion Guillaume Boivin, who is 26 and a former ice-hockey player, joins on a two-year contract from Montreal.
Moving from Airgas-Safeway is two-time Mexican National Road champion Luis Lemmus, while 2015 revelation Dan Turek has also earned a new two-year contract.
Chris Butler joins the team from America bringing World Tour experience following two years with BMC Racing.
Estonian Mikhel Raim, 22, moves from French team Pro Immo Nicolas Roux, and joining from the Radenska Cycling Team is Marko Pavlic, 22, from MKaribor, Slovenia, with a stage second-place in the Nationas Cup and third in Slovenian U23 nationals.
Two more riders with extended contracts are Wojciech Migdal and “Emek” Piaskowy, both aged 24 and from Krakow.
Sorenson, 40, was recently working as sports director with World Tour team Tinkoff Saxo. He had stage victories in the Tour de France and Vuelta Espana in his 15-year career as a professional racer on the circuit.