2016 British National Road Race champion Adam Blythe is one of five final riders named today as having signed for Aqua Blue Sport, the new Professional Continental cycling team founded by Irish business man Rick Delaney. He will be joined on the team roster for 2017 by Larry Warbasse, Andrew Fenn, Mark Christian and Daniel Pearson.

Blythe (26), joins the team on the back of an impressive run of form adding a 12th place finish in the Men’s Elite Road Race in the recent World Championships in Doha to his British national title. He joins Aqua Blue Sport from World Tour team Tinkoff, where he played a key role in supporting Peter Sagan in this year’s Classics.

Warbasse (also 26), the first US rider to join Aqua Blue Sport, joins from Swiss outfit IAM Cycling. Previously with BMC, Warbasse has gained extensive Grand Tour experience including three editions of the Vuelta a España and one of the Giro d’Italia.

Former U23 British Road Racing Champion Fenn (26), joins Aqua Blue Sport from Team Sky, having spent two seasons with them as a sprinter, his primary role being to bolster fire power in the early season Classics.

Isle of Man native Christian (25), brings to the team a strong pedigree on both road and track. He joins from Team Wiggins having been there since 2015. Also making the move from Team Wiggins is Welsh climbing specialist Pearson, who notched an impressive 12th place in the 2016 Tour of Croatia.

Speaking about his decision to join Aqua Blue Sport Blythe said:

"Signing with Aqua Blue Sport offers me a great opportunity to get the most out of myself in 2017, and to have the support to be able to do that. My goal for next season is to win bike races. It is exciting to get young and hungry guys behind you, and to be on a smaller team where you are all trying to get the most out of each other in every race you are competing in."

Warbasse also expressed his excitement about being part of Aqua Blue Sport saying,

"It’s not often you get an opportunity to join a project from the start, especially one as ambitious as this. Each and every member of this project has a unique opportunity, as it is not only on the bike successes that define us. I hope to make an impact off the bike as well as on it, in building the future of Aqua Blue Sport."

These signings bring to 16 the number of riders confirmed as having signed with Aqua Blue Sport for the 2017 season joining team leader Lars Petter Nordhaug, Martyn Irvine, Matt Brammeier, Conor Dunne, Stefan Denifl, Leigh Howard, Michel Kreder, Peter Koning, Aaron Gate, Calvin Watson and Lasse Norman Hansen in completing the 2017 roster for Aqua Blue Sport.

Commenting on the announcement Aqua Blue Sport Principal, Delaney said:

"We are an ambitious team and want Aqua Blue Sport to be in with a chance of winning races from the outset. We are delighted with the strength in depth of riders that we have assembled and when considered alongside the support system we have put in place around them believe we have the ability to make an impact from the outset in 2017. We are getting very excited about the start of the season."