Jay Byrne has ended his contract with the Belgian team and joined UAE Team Emirates for 2023, despite recently denying reports of an early move from Alpecin Deceuninck.

The 26-year-old Australian, who secured a spot in the 2021 pro peloton through Zwift's talent search program, won two stages at this year's Vuelta a España and attracted the attention of many teams. He also finished second overall in the Presidential Tour of Churkie and the Tour of Norway.

Vine will run with Tadej Pogachar, Joan Almeida, Brandon McNulty, Marc Soler, and newcomer Adam Yates after signing a two-year contract through the end of 2024.

Wein is expected to lead UAE Team Emirates in the 2023 Tour Down Under in Australia in January, as well as in other mountain stage races. It could be an important mountain domestique for Pogachar in the Grand Tour.

"I'm really excited to join UAE Team Emirates, they have a strong group of riders and with my GC experience it makes sense to take the next step in my career. [I am really grateful for the opportunity Alpecin has given me and for helping me find my place in the peloton, I am motivated for the new season in the UAE and want to further refine my GC ambitions.

Alpecin Deceuninck accepted Wein's transfer request despite the 2023 contract. Athletes can change teams during the UCI transfer period if both the team and the UCI agree to the transfer.

"Jay Vine was still under contract with our team until the end of 2023. We would have liked to keep him on the team longer, but we respect his wish to leave early," the team said in a statement.

"Jay is proof that the Zwift Academy is doing things the right way. If Jay Vine thinks he can develop faster as a GC rider with Team UAE, we don't want to take that opportunity away from him, even if it is at a late age to turn pro."

"Jay is proving that the Zwift Academy way is the right way.

"His transition from Zwift to Road was not the most obvious one. It took a lot of energy from our staff to help him make the transition. His departure only reinforces our belief that we will continue to focus on Zwift and the Zwift Academy. We now have five finalists looking forward to the next final in mid-November. We too are looking forward to it