Mark Cavendish has lost George Hincapie, a key man from his Columbia-HTC team, after the American moved to BMC Racing.

Hincapie, who is known as a specialist one-day racer and will be team captain and mentor, has signed a two-year deal.

The 36-year-old was part of Cav's lead-out train in his Milan-San Remo Classic victory and 10 Tour de France stage wins over two seasons.

Hincapie had been expected to join seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong's new Radio Shack team.

He supported his fellow American for each of those Tour victories between 1999 and 2005.

But Hincapie said: "The idea of working with the young team and helping to build the program appealed to me.

"I am excited to help mentor the riders while also focusing on my major goals at the same time."

Hincapie has finished seven times in the top 10 of the Paris-Roubaix one-day race and last month won the United States national road title for the third time.