OFFICIAL: Israel - Premier Tech secures the services of two-time top-10 Giro finisher for next two years

Israel - Premier Tech continues to make powerful moves at the transfer market. After the confirmation Kazakh all-rounder Alexey Lutsenko, the new signing aims to add even more depth to Israel - Premier Tech's rapidly growing GC contingent.

Jan Hirt may not be the safest bet among the GC riders, but when every piece of puzzle falls into place, the 33-year-old Czech is most certainly capable of pulling off another top-10 at a Grand Tour. Chance of breakaway success comes as part of the package.

Hirt's best results seem to always come at the Giro d'Italia. In 2022, the Czech climber stunned with a 6th overall, not too shy away from 5th Pello Bilbao and 4th Vincenzo Nibali. Even more remarkable however was Hirt's stage win in the sixteenth stage to Aprica, when he left behind top climbers such as Thymen Arensman and Lennard Kämna.

Soudal - Quick-Step, looking to build a support team for Remco Evenepoel's GC ambitions jumped after the opportunity to sign then Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert rider. Due to many factors, the first year in the Wolfpack didn't turn out very well for Hirt.

However this year, he seemed to have found the 2022 legs again. Following the same path that brought him the big success two years ago, Hirt climbed into the top-10 of Corsa Rosa again, this time to finish 8th overall. Strangely enough, it appears that the February's Tour of Oman can be used as a good indicator of Hirt's form as the Czech won the 2.Pro race in 2022 and finished 2nd overall in this season.

"I see how Israel - Premier Tech is getting better every year and I believe in the future of the team," explains Hirt in a press release. "I’m really glad to be a part of it for the next two years. I would like to support the team in difficult stage races where I can apply my previous experience. My main goal will be to strengthen the team in the Grand Tours so I’m looking forward to the next chapter with IPT."