Jake Latham
Alberto Contador is one of only a few active riders who have won all three Grand Tours but could be forced to look for a new team next season.
Oleg Tinkoff, the major sponsor and owner of the Tinkoff cycling team is leaving the sport at the end of the season, and if Tinkoff manager Stefano Feltrin can’t find another sponsor, riders like Contador and Sagan will be looking elsewhere for a ride. Contador has been part of the Tinkoff team for six years after transfering there in 2011.
Reported by another cycling news website, Lampre-Merida team manager Giuseppe Saronni told Gazzetta dello Sport that he had met with Contador and had the intent to sign him for next season.
“We’ve already had some contact with Alberto Contador. Who wouldn’t be interested in such a rider?” Saronni told the Italian daily. “It won’t be easy but we can at least try.”
Contador was set to retire at the end of this year but his overall win at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco last month has given him a second thought about retiring.
