Ben Swift has ended his time with Team Sky and has joined Project TJ Sports.
This Chinese backed enterprise will take over from Lampre-Merida for the 2017 season and Swift told Cyclingnews.com that he could not turn down their offer.
"Stepping away from Team Sky is a big change, but it was an opportunity that I couldn't say no to," Swift, who joined Team Sky in 2010 said.
"To be honest, my contract was up for renewal, and I wanted to see what options I had floating around out there. TJ Sport came with the best opportunities and deal, and they wanted to sign me as a leader. I want to take that next step, and although I've had a fantastic seven years at Team Sky, I am very limited in what I can do there.
"It was quite a hard decision because everything else was so good at Sky. It was pretty much like a family for me, with the riders, and even the staff. I'd been working with Rod Ellingworth for ten years and Dave Brailsford for the best part of 14 years.
"At TJ Sport we've got a team with a lot of guys who can lead, but at Team Sky my role was becoming more and more second fiddle, and especially on days where I could perform. I can't fault the opportunities that I was given, but it was just becoming harder and harder. In stage races, I'd have to pull on the front or pull in the mountains and then once everything was under control then I would be allowed to go for the win. It was hard to look in a race book at a one-week race and mark down stages I wanted to target. If it was a mountain top finish the day before then I'd be working, and it meant I just couldn't compete to my best ability. Team Sky is the best stage racing team but, for me, it was time to move on and take those opportunities again.
"I was talking to teams, but TJ Sport showed a lot faith and confidence in me. They pursued me a lot and when someone does that it really makes a difference and helps your own confidence," says Swift.
"You know a lot of people in the peloton and we're all colleagues at the end of the day but actual friends as in having their numbers in my phone, I don't know anyone like that on the team but to be honest I've been in those positions before. I was at Team Katusha when I was young and even at Barloworld when I was 19 and in a new environment. I've got that experience, and I know what's expected of me.
"The more I thought about it the more I thought that the opportunity at TJ Sport was the best one for me. There are not many guys who are the exact same as me, who can sprint a bit, go well in the mountains and target the harder days. We obviously have someone like Sacha Modolo and guys like Diego Ulissi but at Dimension Data you've got someone like Edvald Boasson Hagen who is very similar to me. I had to ask myself where I would make the best fit."