Dan Martin might be the first person ever to go directly from the UAE to Israel. Jokes aside, this is the first big surprise of this year’s transfer season. Dan Martin has downgraded and will be joining Israel Cycling Academy on a two-year deal in 2020 after riding the last two seasons with UAE-Team Emirates.

“Our joint goal is to combine our huge appetite for success and to achieve our potential together,” Martin said. “I have so much respect for what ICA want to achieve, I just want to be part of it.”

Martin joins UAE with victories at the 2013 Liège-Bastogne-Liège and 2014 Il Lombardia, along with two Tour de France stage wins. In moving to Israel Cycling Academy, Martin will be stepping down from WorldTour level cycling. That could, of course, change as UAE makes bids int its pursuit of a Tour de France invite, Martin might just be there to help push the conversation.