Dowsett has joined the Spanish team Movistar in a move that follows the departures of sporting director Steven De Jongh and race coach Bobby Julich. Both admitted they had taken performance-enhancing drugs in fallout from the Lance Armstrong doping scandal. Senior sports director Sean Yates retired from cycling Sunday.

Dowsett finished eighth in the time trial at the world championships last month and narrowly missed being part of Great Britain's Olympic cycling team.

He says, "This isn't a decision I have taken lightly. Sky is a fantastic team and I was flattered that they wanted me to stay, but I have a new opportunity and a new chapter of my career."