Hirt, 28, will provide another strong option for the General Classification at stage races and Grand Tours, General Manager Jim Ochowicz said.

“We have been busy recruiting riders who are solid climbers and can really strengthen our ability to go for the General Classification from 2020 onwards, which is something we have lacked this season, so we are looking forward to welcoming Jan Hirt to the team. Jan is often one of those riders who flies under the radar but is consistently up there with the best on the General Classification and his results this year, with fifth at the Tour de Suisse and seventh at Tour of the Alps, are a testament to his ability as a stage race rider,” Ochowicz explained. “Given Jan raced with CCC Sprandi Polkowice until 2017, he is very familiar with many of the staff and riders who are now part of CCC Team so we have no doubt he will fit in well with the team. Jan already has a lot of experience as a professional rider but we believe his best is yet to come and we are excited to see how Jan continues to develop over the next two seasons while working with our performance team. Jan will join fellow climbers Ilnur Zackarin, Fausto Masnada, and our neo pro Georg Zimmermann, in 2020 and with these four riders, I expect to see CCC Team very competitive in the mountains next year.”

Hirt, who won a stage and the General Classification at Int. Österreich-Rundfahrt-Tour of Austria in 2016, is relishing the opportunity to return to the CCC family, this time in the WorldTour environment.