Tour de France champion Alberto Contador looks set to get his wish and quit Astana after the Kazakh outfit failed to gain a Pro Tour licence.
Astana have until November 20 to meet UCI requirements in order to compete in the sport's biggest races, including the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. But UCI rules state a rider is within his rights to leave any team if their Pro Tour status is not confirmed before October 20.
Contador's agent and brother, Fran, has previously hinted the two-time Tour winner is keen to leave Astana, saying the team no longer has the resources to help him mount a challenge to win a third straight Tour de France.
Quick Step have already contacted the rider, while Bradley Wiggins' Garmin-Slipstream outfit and Spanish-based Caisse d'Espagne are also said to be interested.
Contador's departure may clear a path for Kazakh star Alexandre Vinokourov, who has returned to competitive cycling after a ban for blood doping, to go back to Astana. Seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong, who raced for Astana in the 2009 Tour, has left to join a new Radio Shack team.
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