Omega Pharma-Quick Step plans to have a greater impact on the GC in the grand tours and has signed Rigoberto Uran to lead them in the three-week races. Reportedly, Igor Anton will join the Colombian on the Belgian team to form a very strong duo of climbers.

The Euskaltel team will fold at the end of the season and this has left its riders searching for new teams. This week, Astana manager Giuseppe Martinelli confirmed to Biciciclismo that he was interested in signed climbers Mikel Nieve and Mikel Landa and now another of the team's best climbers should be close to signing a new contract.

Reportedly, Igor Anton is very close to reach an agreement with Omega Pharma-Quick Step for next season. The Belgian team has made it clear that they would like to bolster its squad of grand tour contenders and has signed Rigoberto Uran as their Tour de France captain.

Anton would be a perfect fit as a support rider for Uran. The Basque has won no less than 4 stages of the Vuelta a Espana and the prestigious stage to the top of the Monte Zoncolan in the 2011 Giro d'Italia. He may even have won the 2010 Vuelta, had he not crashed out of the race while clad in the leader's jersey.

The last three seasons have been difficult for Anton who has failed to reach his 2010 heights. Nonetheless, he won a stage in both the 2011 Giro and Vuelta and last year finished 9th in his home grand tour.

Reportedly, Lampre-Merida had also shown interest in Anton's signature but Omega Pharma-Quick Step appears to have won the battle.