Three-time Tour de France green jersey winner Peter Sagan will join Tinkoff-Saxo next year after the team confirmed the Slovak star has signed a three-year contract.

Sagan, 24, who romped to a third straight green jersey at last month’s Tour de France for Cannondale but was unable to register a stage win despite a number of top-five finishes.

But Tinkoff-Saxo DS Bjarne Riis believes the team can help the Slovakian champion to deliver on his huge potential as a sprinter, rouleur and classics specialist.

Riis said: “Peter is without doubt one of the biggest talents in cycling and one of the biggest names already.

“He has a winning mentality, he’s visible and active in the finales and he, without doubt, has the ability to bring home victories.

“It will be exciting to work with Peter also for me personally. He has a huge talent and he’s already very strong but I believe he has even more potential than what we’ve seen so far.

“He still has a lot to learn about the tactical aspects of cycling to fully optimize his power but I believe that we are fully able to help him improve even more.

“Next year, we’ll have a very strong team to support him and to aim for big wins throughout the season.”

Sagan also won at E3-Harelbeke this year, after a superb ride in a three-man break, and topped the points classifications at Tirreno-Adriatico, the Tour of California and the Tour de Suisse.

Currently ninth in the UCI WorldTour rankings, Sagan, who signed for the Liquigas team – the forerunners to the current Cannondale side – in 2009, is also set to ride the Vuelta a Espana before joining Tinkoff-Saxo next season.

And team owner Oleg Tinkov can not wait to welcome the hugely talented Slovakian to the team.

He said: “Peter Sagan is a great rider and it is my honour to have him on our team.

“I believe that Tinkoff-Saxo is the best team for Peter and I’m absolutely sure that he’ll win many races with us. I am excited.”