2019 Giro d'Italia champion Richard Karapas said he is ready for a "new challenge" with Team Ineos, the British WorldTour team he joined for 2020 after three years with Spain's Team Movistar.

According to the Spanish website AS.com, Carapaz said at a press conference on Tuesday in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito that he is excited to find out "what it's like to be on a different team, where you don't speak the language."

The 26-year-old Calapaz became Ecuador's first Grand Tour winner at the Giro in June, beating two-time Giro winner Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and Primoz Roglic of Jumbo Visma.

Karapas' 2020 program has not yet been revealed, but he will be joined by four-time Tour de France winner and 2018 Giro champion Chris Froome, 2018 Tour champion Geraint Thomas, defending Tour de France champion He joins a team that boasts a number of proven Grand Tour winners, including Egan Bernal.

"I think I am still young and still have a lot of options to explore," said Karapas, who signed a three-year contract with his new team. Like everyone else in life, I am constantly going through changes."

Whether he will have the opportunity to defend his Giro title in 2020, or whether he will be riding for a teammate like Thomas, remains to be seen.

But with the hilly Olympic road race also high on the agenda for many Grand Tour riders next year, there are more opportunities available than usual in 2020.

Although not yet selected, Calapaz is hopeful that Ecuador will be able to secure one of two slots in the road race at the Tokyo Olympics in July.

"The best athletes should go," Calapaz said. 'We always do our best.'

He said he hopes 2020 with Team Ineos will be a "fruitful year," but said he leaves Movistar in good standing with his teammates and management team.