After a five-year absence, Australian cycling star Caleb Ewan is returning to his roots to race with the GreenEDGE team.
Wednesday's announcement brings Ewan's tumultuous spell with Lotto Dstny to an end.
The 29-year-old's rocky relationship with the Belgian team reached boiling point in September, when they questioned the Sydney rider's commitment after he sustained a wrist injury.
Suffering acute tendinopathy in his right wrist, Ewan was unable to finish the Gooikse Pijl race and didn't make the startline at Omloop van het Houtland a few days later.
"The team has made it clear that they would prefer me to leave," Ewan told Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad in September.
Lotto Dstny and the Australian-based team GreenEDGE, who raced this season as Jayco AlUla, have released statements confirmed Ewan's transfer.
"We are happy that Caleb can continue his career elsewhere, Lotto Dstny chief executive Stephane Heulot said, adding it was a mutual agreement.
"Caleb has won a lot for the team and we are thankful for that, and just like in a relationship or marriage you have good and bad days together.
"2023 was a difficult year for Caleb. We all know he has a lot of talent, but right now he is not showing that in our team and then it's better to part ways.
"We don't want to hold Caleb back in this new opportunity that he has, so we have decided to allow him to continue his career elsewhere."
Ewan joined Lotto Dstny in 2019, signing an extension to 2024 on the back of two stage victories at the 2021 Giro d'Italia.
Nicknamed 'the Pocket Rocket', sprinter Ewan will return to GreenEDGE Cycling for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Ewan turned professional with GreenEDGE in 2014, taking out his first WorldTour win at the Vuelta a Espana the following year.
"It means a lot to me to come back to GreenEDGE," he said.
"It's where I started my professional career. When I joined the team initially, I was only 19 or 20, so I was very young.
"I have developed as a person and as a rider. The main thing will be getting back to winning ways.
"I hope to bring a lot of success to the team."
Ewan also said in the Lotto Dstny statement that he was grateful for his time with the team.
"I will never forget the many good race memories we made together," he said.
"But it was time for a change and I am very happy that we came to an agreement to end my ungoing contract and that I can continue my career elsewhere."
Ewan has taken out five stage wins at the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, as well as nine Tour Down Under stage wins.
"Caleb needs no introduction with the incredible list of results that he has," GreenEDGE Cycling team general manager Brent Copeland said.
"For us to have another Australian rider with such calibre joining us, it is very special."
