The 2015 Vuelta a España winner Fabio Aru on Thursday joined South Africa's only elite WorldTour team, Qhubeka Assos, formerly NTT.

Aru, 30, has raced for the UAE Emirates team since 2018, with his most successful spell coming before that with Astana.

The Italian, a climbing specialist, is hoping the move will reignite his career.

"Over the past few years I haven't enjoyed the success I was hoping for," said the Sardinia-born rider.

He is the latest new recruit snapped up by Qhubeka Assos who have announced recently the arrival of Australian Simon Clarke, Belgian Dimitri Claeys, Swiss rider Kilian Frankiny, Pole Lukasz Wisniowski, South African Connor Brown, Brit Harry Tanfield and Dane Emil Vinjebo.