Yesterday Portuguese rider Bruno Pires was the best Saxo-Tinkoff rider in the Italian race GP Beghelli as he finished 16th. After the race he confirmed that he will not be riding for Bjarne Riis’ team next season. Pires thus becomes the fourth rider within a short span of time to announce that his stay with the Danish team will not continue through 2014.

“I have finished my last race in the 2013 season, and my last race in the Saxo-Tinkoff jersey. I wanted to finish in this manner and I ended up as number 16 in my final race [in the Saxo-Tinkoff jersey], which is neither good nor bad, but I’m satisfied,” Pires said in a post on his Facebook-site yesterday.

The soon to be former Saxo-Tinkoff rider readily acknowledged that his 2013 season had been less than spectacular.

“For different reasons, the current season has been the worst in my professional career, but that’s cycling and sport for you ... Right now I’m in a difficult position because I don’t know for which team I’ll be riding next year, but I hope to be able to continue my career abroad,” Pires said.

Despite the uncertainty with regards to his immediate future, Pires finished on a philosophical note.

“Thanks to everybody who has offered me support and I still believe that what doesn’t kill you make you stronger.”

Previously, Saxo-Tinkoff riders Benjamin Noval and Anders Lund have announced that they will but an end to their careers, while Jonathan Cantwell has signed a contract for Drapac.