Team Sky poach Michal Kwiatkowski as seven new riders named in 2016 squad

Polish rider Kwiatkowski, 25, joins from Etixx-QuickStep while Giro d'Italia podium finisher Mikel Landa – who won three Grand Tour stages this season – joins from Astana, in two of the most high profile acquisitions.

In addition to the new signings, ten riders, including British trio Peter Kennaugh, Ian Stannard and Luke Rowe, have all agreed new contracts while Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas were already under contract.

Brailsford says that the signing of Kwiatkowski, who won the Amstel Gold Race and came second at both the Volta ao Algarve and Paris-Nice, has come at the third time of asking for Sky.

“Michał has performed fantastically well over the past couple of years,” he said. “We have been following his career for a long time.

“We have attempted to sign him on two occasions previously and weren’t going to miss out this time around.

“Team Sky can help him progress and develop both his one-day racing and stage racing. Michał is still young, a great talent for the future, and will keep getting better.”

The Pole added, "Sir Dave Brailsford believes in my ability, which gives me great confidence for next season, and I know that this team can help me raise my performance levels and win big races.

“The team’s marginal gains philosophy really fits my approach to cycling and I have great respect for what this team has achieved in such a short time. I am excited and motivated to race for Team Sky next year.”

Brailsford said of his new squad: “It’s a strong team – led by Chris Froome – that will ensure we can be even more competitive in all the major races – from Grand Tours to Classics.

“We have recruited some of the best young talent from around the world in Michal Kwiatkowski and Mikel Landa for example.

“At the same time we have been able to keep the nucleus of this year’s successful team together by re-signing riders of the calibre of Vasil Kiryienka – the new time trial world champion.”

And he was pleased to have added to the team’s British core too, concluding: “Cycling is a global sport and Team Sky will always look to recruit the best riders from around the world. But we remain a British team with a strong British core.

“I’m pleased the five British riders who were such a big part of this year’s successful Tour de France team will all be riding for us again in 2016 – along with new signing Alex Peters.”

New signings: Michal Kwiatkowski, Michal Golas, Benat Intxausti, Mikel Landa, Gianni Moscon, Alex Peters, Danny van Poppel

Contract renewals: Ian Boswell, Philip Deignan, Sebastian Henao, Peter Kennaugh, Vasil Kiryienka, Christian Knees, Mikel Nieve, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, Xabier Zandio

Already under contract: Chris Froome, Andy Fenn, Sergio Henao, Leopold Konig, David Lopez, Lars Petter Nordhaug, Wout Poels, Salvatore Puccio, Nicolas Roche, Ben Swift, Geraint Thomas