Igor Anton is one of the riders who chose to put his contract negotiations on hold when news broke that F1 star Fernando Alonso would take over the Euskaltel license for the 2014 season. Following the breakdown of that plan, Anton still hasn't signed a new contract and may have to turn 2014 into a transitional year.

Igor Anton is one of the star riders of the folding Euskaltel team and when the demise of the squad was announced, he was rumoured to be heading to Omega Pharma-Quick Step for the coming season. When Fernando Alonso and Euskaltel reached a principal agreement that would allow the F1 star to take over the license of the Basque squad, Anton decided to put his negotiations on hold to join the new team.

However, those plans came to nothing and as thing stand, Anton has no contract for the 2014 season. The Basque has vented his frustration in Basque television.

“As things stand I’ve got nothing, or at least nothing concrete," he said. “I’ve never experienced anything like this before. Both time and the decisions that have been taken have gone against me. The more time goes by, the more nervous you become."

Anton got close to winning the 2010 Vuelta a Espana but crashed out while wearing the leader's jersey. He has shown his talents as a great climber by winning stages in both the Giro and the Vuelta but has had difficulties during the last two seasons. Hence, his value points tally is rather meagre and makes him less attractive on a market that is loaded with talents following the demises of several big teams.

“The teams keep a place or two spare to take advantage and some are now picking up good riders at very reduced rates,” he explained.

Omega Pharma-Quick Step have recently announced the signings of Jan Bakelants and Thomas De Gendt and so have no more open spots for the coming season. His agent Giuseppe Acquadro has confirmed to Biciclismo that Anton will meet with the Belgian team's manager Patrick Lefevre on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of Anton joining the team next year.

Despite being in contact with several ProTeams, Anton admits that 2014 may be a transitional year for him before getting his career back on track in 2015.