Irish cyclist Ryan Mullen has joined the soon-to-be-rebranded Israel - Premier Tech team for the 2026 season.
The 31-year-old, who is a multiple national time trial and road race champion – most recently in June – moves to the Israeli-owned outfit after four years with Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe.
Veteran rider Mullen finished 12th in the time trial at his debut Olympics in Paris last year and 26th in the same event at last month's World Championships.
"I've watched this team grow throughout my entire professional career, right from its early days as Cycling Academy," said Mullen, who has signed a contract until 2027.
"Seeing how far it’s come makes me genuinely excited about the opportunity to be part of what’s next, because I believe there’s still a lot more to achieve."
IPT general manager Kjell Carlström said: "Throughout Ryan’s career, he has made a name for himself as a dependable team-mate with an incredibly strong engine and that’s exactly why we were interested in bringing him to the team.
"We wanted to find a rider with a big engine who could bring experience and key race intelligence to the team. Not only does Ryan fit the bill, with vast experience when it comes to sprint trains and racing’s most chaotic moments, but he is a strong time trialist in his own right. We believe Ryan will be a great fit from both a racing and culture perspective."
IPT announced earlier this month that they will change their name for the 2026 season, moving away from their Israeli identity after more than a decade.
The Israeli-based team, created in 2014 by Ron Baron and Ran Margaliot, were this year subjected to a series of protests over their involvement in races, due to Israel's war in Gaza, where a fragile ceasefire is now in place.
They were excluded from the Giro dell Emilia earlier this month due to public safety concerns after widespread disruption at the Vuelta a Espana in September.
IPT removed their full name from riders' jerseys during the Vuelta, which had its final stage abandoned when pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the finish in Madrid.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny woman Mia Griffin has signed a three-year deal with World Tour outfit Picnic PostNL.
Griffin (pictured above) was on the podium twice at this week's Tour of Chonming Island, in China, finishing 11th overall.
Over the last 13 months, she has competed in the Tour de France Femmes and Giro d'Italia, won the Irish road race title and become the first Irish winner of the Rás na mBán in 12 years.
Griffin said: "Team Picnic PostNL has always looked like one of the most well-organised and professional set-ups in the peloton, and that's exactly the kind of environment I want to be part of as a rider. The structure, the attention to detail, and the sense of purpose really appealed to me."
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna added: "Mia joins us from a strong track background and the ambition to make it as a full-time road sprinter. The goal is for her to become a dedicated sprint finisher in the future, capable of competing for podiums in the biggest races."
