Team Sky sign Mikel Landa and Benat Intxausti

Team Sky have confirmed that they have signed Mikel Landa from Astana for the 2016 season and the 25-year-old will be joined by another Spanish climber, Benat Intxausti, who arrives from Movistar.

Landa finished third in this year’s Giro d’Italia, taking two stage wins while also helping team-mate Fabio Aru to second place. At the Vuelta a Espana, he again won a stage as Aru took the overall.

Team Principal Sir Dave Brailsford said:

"Mikel is a rider we have followed closely for the last four or five years. He has always demonstrated a big talent and we have always recognised that. He really stepped up at the Giro d'Italia this year, but we had already identified him as a target.

"He has shown he is one of the best climbers in the world, and he is only 25 years old. We are very excited at the opportunity of developing this young rider over the coming years."

Brailsford also welcomed the arrival of Intxausti and highlighted the fact that he can perform as an individual or ride in support of the team. "His arrival will strengthen our team in the very big races, and Beñat will also get opportunities throughout to perform in his own right," he said.

The 29-year-old has two top ten finishes in Grand Tours to his name and won stage eight of this year’s Giro but is best-known for the work he has done as a strong climbing domestique for Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde at Movistar.

Intxausti described the decision to join as being ‘an easy choice’. "Since its creation, I have always been attracted to the way the team works, and have always dreamt of being a part of it.”

The two Spaniards follow four other Team Sky signings for 2016 – Alex Peters, Gianni Moscon, Michal Golas and earlier this week, Danny van Poppel.