Veteran Australian rider Rory Sutherland has signed with the Israel Cycling Academy Team for 2020, joining current UAE Team Emirates teammate Dan Martin on the new WorldTour-level team.

The Israel Cycling Academy Team has been a professional continental team since 2017 and has recently signed a contract for the upcoming season with the current team, Katusha Alpecin, having received their 2020 World Tour license The roster of the two teams will be merged and will be called Israel Cycling Academy Katusha.

Israel Cycling Academy had already announced the signing of Irishman Martin before the merger was completed, but with the announcement of the signing of 37-year-old Sutherland, the two teammates will be reunited in Israel for 2020.

"I was in the process of deciding what I wanted to do with my cycling career. I wanted to find the right team situation for me, and I wasn't sure if that was even possible."

"When Kjell [Carlstrom, team manager] told me about the ICA project, I really got fired up and knew it was the team for me. I love to ride my bike. I honestly find great satisfaction in helping riders grow and helping to create a positive team environment where everyone can work together," he said.

Martin's decision to sign with ICA was apparently the icing on the cake and helped convince Sutherland to run the pen.

"There is something special about the ICA project," Sutherland continued. 'There is a desire for excellence among the riders, the staff, and the owners.' Everyone involved in the project is motivated and excited about performance. My job will give me the opportunity to help the team excel in all aspects, not just racing."

Carlstrom said Sutherland is exactly the type of rider the team was looking for as it seeks to step up to the World Tour level in 2020 He added.

"We were looking for a road captain in certain races, and in others, especially the big ones, we were looking for someone who could assist the GC riders in the most critical moments, both in the mountains and on the flat, to keep them in position and out of trouble," said Carlstrom.

"More than that, I needed someone with extensive experience and leadership who could help and advise the younger riders on the team. For me, there was one rider who offered the full package, and that was Rory Sutherland."