Alberto Contador has confirmed that he will be present in the professional peloton in 2017. Indeed, the Spanish rider told Cyclingnews that he wants to continue and that he still feels in great shape.

"I have decided that I will continue because I am very keen to keep racing, my condition is very good, and on top of that my power data, year on year, is very encouraging", the Tinkoff leader explained. "Talking it over with my support staff and with my family, I've decided to continue. On top of that, racing is what I like doing the most."

Oleg Tinkov has decided to put an end to his involvement in cycling and the Russian tycoon has told that 2016 will be his last year as main sponsor and owner of Alberto Contador's and Peter Sagan's team. Tinkov is disappointed not to have been able to implement his ideas and leaves the sport for personal and professional reasons. 

El Pistolero is currently searching for a new team. "Various offers have come through for next year. I don't like saying which teams because apart from anything else it's not fair on the riders already in those teams. So there's that interest, there's still that chance of having my own team although it's true that we have to move fast on that to keep that option open."

Contador hopes to join a team where he will have the leadership at the Tour de France. "What I want to be clear is that whichever team I do ride for in 2017, they would have to make winning the Tour de France a top priority. It doesn't matter if it's my team or one that's already created, it has to be a powerful squad that is going all out for the Tour and that factor will be what has the biggest effect on my decision where I sign. They've got to be as keen to win the Tour as I am."

For the current season, he won't be at the start of Critérium Dauphiné with great ambitions. "I will push myself as hard as I possibly can at the Dauphiné and I would like to do a good race there. But my objective is to get to the Tour de France in top shape and that's why I go to the Dauphiné without that clear objective of winning. I want to have a little bit of an opportunity to polish my form there, particularly as it's a very, very hard race for your team and for the riders. The idea in the Dauphiné is to race yourself into top form."