Marcus Ljungqvist, freshly retired following his race in Paris-Tours last month, will join Team Sky in the New Year as Sports Director.

The appointment, along with the recent signing of Steven De Jongh, will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the fledging cycling team with big ambitions for Tour de France success.

The 34 year old from Sweden has enjoyed a successful 12 year- riding career, most recently with Team CSC/Team Saxobank since 2006.

David Brailsford, Team Principal for Team Sky, says; “We are really pleased to have Marcus on board with us and he will work well with Scott and Steven. The guys know the cycling world inside out and will be able to bring invaluable knowledge with them to the team. We have been busy this summer putting together the right group of people and building a broad team; we are in great shape.”

Marcus Ljungqvist added; “I’m very excited about my new career move. Just a couple of weeks ago I was still a rider and had some tough decisions to make about my future. Then this opportunity came along and I immediately thought ‘yes!’ This is a fantastic possibility for me and I can’t wait to be a part of one of the most exiting things ever to happen in professional cycling. I’ve been involved in the sport for my whole life – the last 12 years as a professional – and it’s great that I can stay involved with a sport that I love and use my knowledge and experience to help develop Team Sky.” 

Team Sky will compete from the start of 2010, beginning with the Tour Down Under, and hopes to gain an invitation to next year’s Tour de France.   The initial squad of around 25 riders will be supported by a team of coaches, technicians and support staff drawn from across the cycling world, many of whom work throughout the year with British elite and developing riders.

To date, Team Sky has revealed 16 riders for the new team with more to be announced.  Six British riders – Geraint Thomas, Steve Cummings, Pete Kennaugh, Chris Froome, Ian Stannard and Russell Downing – line up with ten international riders; Edvald Boasson Hagen, Thomas Lovkvist, Kurt Arvesen, Simon Gerrans, Juan Antonio Flecha, Kjell Carlstrom, John Lee Augustyn, Greg Henderson, Lars Petter Nordhaug and Morris Possoni.