The Israel Cycling Academy announced its 2020 team on Wednesday in Tel Aviv.

It was an off-season of change for the Israeli team, which took over Katusha's spot in cycling's top division after Switzerland's Katusha Alpecin disbanded at the end of 2019. Katusha's seven riders are among 17 new faces on the team's 30-rider roster for next season.

But the most notable additions are from elsewhere, with German sprinter Andre Greipel joining after an unsuccessful season with Alcare Samsic and Irishman Dan Martin moving from UAE team Emirates.

The team will also change bike suppliers for 2020, with Factor Bikes joining after two years with De Rosa. Italian wine company Vini Fantini will also join as a sponsor after five years as co-title sponsor with the folding Nippo Vini Fantini team.

"The dream of competing in the Tour de France was almost unthinkable just five years ago when we started the team, but now it is becoming a reality," said team co-owner Sylvain Adams. "We proudly race in one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world."

"It's a great honor to be a part of it."

"Some 3.5 billion viewers in hundreds of countries around the world will see the Israeli flag and hear the message that this is a country that brings unparalleled innovation to the world.

The renaming of the team is part of a new partnership with Startup Nation Central, a Tel Aviv-based non-profit organization established to support Israeli startups.

"By partnering with Startup Nation Central, we will showcase Israel's tech ecosystem on the global stage and send a clear message that this country has a lot to offer the world," Adams said.

"There is no doubt that Israel's cutting-edge technology will give our team a competitive advantage in the world's premier cycling races.

The new identity also entails a new look. The old light blue and white color scheme will remain, but the jerseys will be white with a blue band on the chest and a blue band on the sleeves.

Israel Start-Up Nation's move to the World Tour is the culmination of a rapid rise for the team, which was founded as a cycling academy in 2015. The team ran at the continental level for two seasons before being promoted to Pro Continental in 2017.

In 2018, the team earned a wildcard invitation to the Giro d'Italia, which began in Israel. Last season, he returned to the race and competed in a number of World Tour events, including Il Lombardia, Milan-San Remo, and La Flèche Wallonne.

"We have no illusions: World Tour racing is very hard and the teams are top level. The World Tour races are very hard and the teams are top level. We need to be well prepared, competitive, race hard in every race, and score points. We are determined to move up the standings as much as we possibly can."

In addition to signing big names Martin and Greipel, former world time record holder Alex Doucet joins from Katusha-Alpecin, as does Nils Pollitt, who finished second in Paris-Roubaix in 2019. Also joining from North America will be 2019 Tour of Utah runner-up James Piccoli and Travis McCabe, who won the points prize in the same race.

Outgoing riders include Ruben Plaza, who is retiring, and Cristian Sbaragli, who is expected to move to the Corendon team led by Mathieu van der Pol.

In addition to WorldToursted, the team will also run the Continental Development Team in 2020, which includes eight Israeli riders as well as riders from Canada, the Czech Republic, Australia, Morocco, Colombia, and Sweden.