Since beating Mark Cavendish to claim his first national title, Blythe has seen more action with the British national team than with Tinkoff, including finishing 12^th in the world road race after he and Cavendish got in the race-winning move.

And the 27-year-old hopes the move to the new Irish team will allow him to fulfil his personal ambitions next season.

“Signing with Aqua Blue Sport offers me a great opportunity to get the most out of myself in 2017, and to have the support to be able to do that,” he said.

“My goal for next season is to win bike races. It is exciting to get young and hungry guys behind you, and to be on a smaller team where you are all trying to get the most out of each other in every race you are competing in.”

The quartet will be the only Brits on the roster, which is led by Norway’s Lars-Petter Nordhaug, who is leaving Team Sky for a second time this winter.

However, three Irish riders – 31-year-old Matt Brammeier (Dimension Data), JLT-Condor’s giant 24-year-old Conor Dunne, and former track world champion Martyn Irvine, 31 – are also all on board.

Aqua Blue Sport: 2017 roster

Lars Petter Nordhaug (NOR) – from Team Sky
Adam Blythe (GBR) – from Tinkoff
Mark Christian (GBR) – from Team Wiggins
Andrew Fenn (GBR) – from Team Sky
Daniel Pearson (GBR) – from Team Wiggins
Matt Brammeier (IRL) – from Dimension Data
Conor Dunne (IRL) – from JLT-Condor
Martyn Irvine (IRL)
Stefan Denifl (AUT) – from IAM Cycling
Aaron Gate (NZL) – from An Post-Chain Reaction
Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) – from Stolting Service Group
Leigh Howard (AUS) – from IAM Cycling
Peter Koning (NED) – from Drapac
Michel Kreder (NED) – from Roompot-Oranje Peloton
Larry Warbasse (USA) – from IAM Cycling
Calvin Watson (AUS) – from An Post-Chain Reaction