With the future of Team Saxo-Tinkoff being uncertain due to the lack of a co-sponsor for next season, the team's star rider Alberto Contador has accepted a pay cut of 10-15% of his current salary. According to his spokesperson, the Spaniard has been guaranteed that the team will continue in the 2014 season.

Ever since Tinkoff bank announced that it wouldn't renew its sponsorship contract for the 2014 season, team owner Bjarne Riis has been searching for money to fill the gap left by the Russian bank. Until now, no contract has been signed and with an important UCI deadline on October 20 rapidly approaching, the Dane has now had to ask his star rider Alberto Contador to accept a pay cut in an important attempt to save the team.

According to Danish newspaper BT, Contador has accepted the request to reduce his salary by 10-15%, thus bringing his yearly income down from 3,3 million euro to 2,8 million euro. However, the Spaniard is also reported to have a personal agreement with bike sponsor Specialized that brings him 2 million euro annually.

Asked to comment on the rumours, Contador's spokesman Jacinto Vidarte refuses to comment but states that Contador has been affirmed by Riis that the team will continue next season. Main sponsor Saxo Bank has vowed to continue its support but is unable to fill the gap left by Tinkoff Bank.

“I don't have any information about that , and it is not important at this time," Vidarte told BT. "Right now it is important that the team will continue and that Contador continues on the team. That's all we have to say.”

Riis does not have an awful lot of time to solve his financial problems. At the Worlds last weekend, he claimed to be close to signing a contract with a new sponsor and BT claims that Riis is currently in contact with two parties.

On October 20, Riis has to send the team's dossier to the UCI and it has to include not only a bank guarantee but also the team's roster for the coming season which will be used to evaluate the team's sporting level. According to the rules, a UCI ProTeam must employ at least 23 riders and Riis has until now only 16 confirmed contracts for next season.