With the end of November fast approaching, Samuel Sanchez still hasn't found a team for the coming season and most teams have now finalized their roster. However, a new option may now have opened up as the professional continental Colombia team has shown interest in the rider, with the team waiting for his contractual obligations with Euskaltel waiting to be resolved.

Despite being one of cycling's major stars with an Olympic title and several grand tour podiums on his palmares, Samuel Sanchez is one of several riders left on the market. Yesterday he spoke at length with Biciciclismo and revealed that he has no concrete offers and hasn't opened negotiations with any team, despite expressing his clear desire to continue his career.

Most ProTeams have finalized their rosters and nothing suggests that the Sanchez will be able to continue his career in one of cycling's major teams. At one point, he was rumoured to be joining the continental Sky Dive team from Dubai but in yesterday's interview, he firmly denied the possibility that he would head to the Arabian peninsula in 2014.

The most likely option appears to be a pro continental team and yesterday an additional team admitted that they have tried to sign Sanchez. Until now, the Colombia team has been made up only of Colombian riders but in an interview with Velonation, team spokesman David Evangelista told that the team would be keen to have Sanchez as their captain in 2014.

However, Sanchez has a contract with Euskaltel until 2015 and despite that team's demise, he needs to clarify his contractual obligations before a deal with Colombia can be signed.

“Team Colombia has an interest in following the evolution of Samuel Sanchez’ situation, even though I can’t say any actual negotiation is in place at the moment,” Evangelista said. “The team has made the due diligence and talked to the rider, but he’s currently bound to Euskaltel-Euskadi, and no steps can be made until he clarifies the situation with his former team.
 

“We must see how things pan out. We definitely respect Samuel Sanchez and his value as a rider and team player and Team Colombia will be out to follow the evolution.”
 

In an interview with Ciclismo Internacional, Sanchez elaborated on his current relationships with Euskaltel

“If I’m honest I couldn’t have imagined this situation at any point. The only negotiation I have is with Euskaltel, and with nobody else," he said. “I intend to continue racing. I hope to find something, even if it’s late.”
 

He added that he and Euskaltel need to work out the situation before he can open negotiations with another team.

“I have not had the opportunity to ask or not ask for much money, but my palmares is there," he said. "It took me fourteen years of my life and I will not thrown it aboard overnight.”

It appears likely that Sanchez is seeking compensation for Euskaltel's breaking of the contract.

Yesterday, Wanty-Groupe Gobert manager Hilaire van der Schueren confirmed that his team is still interested in signing Sanchez who would open the door for the team to a grand tour. He added that Sanchez had to decide between the Belgian team and an American pro continental team.

Contacted by Velonation, the only North American pro continental teams, Novo Nordisk and UnitedHealthCare, both ruled out any interest in Sanchez. The former will keep its all-diabetic policy while the latter has already finalized its roster. Hence, van der Schueren is likely to refer to Colombia as Sanchez' second option.

Evangelista told Velonation that Colombia is currently in talks with a Colombian rider  and that the team will have between 18 and 20 riders next season. At the moment, 17 riders have a contract for the coming season. With Darwin Atapuma and Johan Esteban Chaves both leaving the team, the Colombians will lose two of their main riders and Sanchez would make up for that loss.

If Sanchez resolves the situation with Euskaltel, he appears likely to join either Colombia or Wanty-Groupe Gobert in 2014.