Tour Down Under winner Tom-Jelte Slagter will leave his well-known surroundings in the Belkin team next year and instead move to Garmin-Sharp as he has signed a contract to join the team next year. Having already taken a big WorldTour win in Australia, he hopes to further develop his talents as a rider for the hillier classics.

Tom-Jelte Slagter has grown up in the Rabobank ranks and has started his professional career as part of the Dutch team and its successors Blanco and Belkin. That relationship will come to an end next year as the talented Dutchman has signed a contract with Garmin-Sharp to join the American team next year.

Already in his first season as a professional in 2011, Slagter gave indications of his potential but it was his 6th place in the 2012 Tour of Oman that was his first major result. His breakthrough came at this year's Tour Down Under where he won stage 3 and went on to claim the overall title.

Since then, Slagter has been unable to produce similar results but still finished 3rd in a stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné. He hopes that his new team will help him develop into an even better rider and so fulfil his potential.

“I am very glad to become part of Team Garmin-Sharp," he said. "Together with my agency I have searched for the best possible team and I believe that Garmin-Sharp is the best fit for me.  I just turned 24 and I know I have a lot to learn. I would like to become more consistent on the World Tour level and I think Garmin-Sharp is the right place to be able to continue to develop my career."

Especially one rider has been an inspiration for Slagter.

"Dan Martin is one of my role models in the peloton, and it's fantastic to see the big races he won this year, so I am very excited to be able to race with him at some point in the future. Garmin-Sharp has always been one of my favorite teams. It is great to see how well they have performed in the recent years, and I like what they stand for and the leadership of Jonathan Vaughters."

Slagter will not be the only Dutchman on the roster as compatriots Thomas Dekker, Raymond and Michel Kreder are already part of the squad.

"I am also excited to race alongside a few other Dutch cyclists," he added. "It is always a pleasure to have a few teammates you can travel and train with. Finally, I look forward to learning from and helping the established riders on the team and being a part of this organization.”

Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports and Team Garmin-Sharp, added: “We are always looking to help develop young talent and Tom is a perfect fit for our team. He is an explosive rider with a lot of potential, which we have already seen with his overall win at the Tour Down Under this year. We look forward to having him on board next year and continuing to develop his talent.”

Slagter has signed a two-year contract with his new team.