Mitchelton Scott (open in new tab) has announced the renewal of his contract with Mikel Nieve (open in new tab) for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The Basque rider joined the team in 2018 and since then has primarily been supporting GC leaders Adam Yates and Simon Yates, as well as Esteban Chavez.

The 35-year-old Nieve moved from Team Sky last season, winning the final stage of the 2018 Giro d'Italia in Cervinia and finishing in the top 10 at this year's Vuelta a España.

Prior to joining the Australian team, he had a stage win at the 2010 Vuelta, stage wins at the 2011 and 2016 Giro, a stage win at the 2014 Criterium du Dauphiné, and three more top-10 finishes in Grand Tours.

"I'm enjoying life here," Nieve said in a team press release. "It's a big change, last year I started racing much later and spent a lot of days with the team with one crash. This year I was able to race all year and have more trust with everyone.

"It was great to ride with Simon in the Giro last year and I enjoyed it again with everyone this year. I already have a lot of experience in the Grand Tours, so I want to be an important part of the team in the important races and support them as much as I can." [It's really exciting to see young riders like Lucas [Hamilton] developing and it's a real pleasure for me to be able to help them.

Mitchelton-Scott sport director Matt White said Nieve has a position on the team for as long as he wants it, adding that his experience riding 18 Grand Tours is important to Mitchelton-Scott.

"Mikkel has been very reliable for the last two years, and we want to continue that relationship as long as he wants to continue racing," White said. [He has a wealth of experience. He's been part of teams that have won the Tour de France and the Grand Tours, and obviously he has experience with Sky. He leads by example and is a very solid guy."

Mitchelton-Scott already has four signings for the 2020 season, with Andrei Zeitz from Astana, Barnabas Peacock and Kayden Groves from SEG Racing Academy, and Alexander Konyshev from Dimension Data They will join from Qhubeka. Matteo Trentin (open in new tab) (to CCC team) is the only player so far confirmed to leave the team.