Team Ineos announced Monday the signing of Giro d'Italia champion Richard Karapas. The 26-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the British WorldTour team.

"I am very excited to join the team. I feel this is a great opportunity to continue to grow as a rider by working with a team that is getting stronger every year," Karapas said in a press release.

"I already know a lot of the riders on the team and am really looking forward to working with everyone on Team Ineos next season.

The Ecuadorian rider made history in May as the first rider from his country to win a Grand Tour, but his challenge for the Vuelta a España title was derailed when he crashed in the criterium in Etten Lule in the Netherlands.

After the Giro d'Italia, Movistar confirmed that Calapaz and Nairo Quintana would be leaving the team, and speculation that Calapaz would join Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome, and Egan Bernal at Ineos to strengthen the team's Grand Tour front The situation became more widespread.

Arkea Samsic confirmed the signing of Quintana on Monday.

"I believe I will fit in well with this group and will be able to race to my full potential in the coming years. I want to achieve great victories with Team Ineos," Karapas said.

Kalapas, who turned professional with Movistar in 2017, is the first new signing announced by Team Ineos for the 2020 season and joins a South American group that includes Bernal, Ivan Sosa, and Sebastian Henao. Wout Poels, David de la Cruz, and Kenny Elissonde will also move on at the end of 2020.

"We have long admired his talent as a bike rider and have followed his development closely over the years.

"He is clearly a great climber, but he also has great versatility, as he showed at this year's Giro. He is still relatively young and will no doubt grow and improve further with Team Ineos."