Having signed a contract with Orica GreenEDGE, Amets Txurruka has issued an open letter to thank his current team, Caja Rural.

"A new chapter opens in my sporting career, in 2016 I will ride with the Orica GreenEDGE team. It is an opportunity to return to the World Tour, and I do so with a special team," he wrote.

"I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA team for these three unforgettable years. They took a chance on me and trusted me from the beginning. I will always carry this team in my heart, for the enthusiasm they instilled in me, for putting their trust in me and because I was wearing this jersey when I had my very first win as a professional. I have had five in total with them. I am very grateful to the entire team for these three fantastic years, during which I have grown very fond of this family. I will continue to be their fan always.

"My goal is to continue focused on finishing this season in the best possible way, I owe it to the team, to my teammates, to fans and also to myself. So I want to focus on ending this year with the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA team as they deserve. We have important commitments ahead and the entire team will work hard to bring this great year to an even greater close."

Amets Txurruka joined Caja Rural in 2013 as one of the team’s key members. During his first year, he managed to win a stage and the general classification of the Vuelta a Asturias. In his second year, he won the general classification of the Tour de Gevaudan. This season he has won a stage in the Tour of Norway and in the Tour de Beauce. He is, along with Carlos Barbero, the rider with the most number of triumphs since 2010, the year in which the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA returned to professional competing.