Rinaldo Nocentini wants to continue his professional career, despite turning 38 years in September and having spent 17 seasons at the pro level. He has 14 victories on his palmares, the latest coming in 2010 at the first stage of Tour du Haut Var. "That year I was also doing quite well,” he tells tuttobiciweb.it. “Then I had a bad crash in the GP Insubria.”

Nocentini was left with a fracture of the tibia, fibula and ankle. One year earlier he enjoyed the highlight of his career: eight days in the yellow jersey at the Tour de France which he finished in 12th. But now it is waiting for a call from agent Marco Piccioli, who is working with a foreign team.

"Well, I have been in foreign teams since 2007,” he explains. “I spent nine beautiful seasons at Ag2r and I also want to thank them for the wonderful experience. Now good things are happening but we need to have a little patience. In a few days I could give some more news.”

Nocentini still feels able to do two years at a good level. "I'd like to race the Giro d’Italia and also do the classic. This year I was 12th in Amstel and 12th in Fleche Wallonne. I was up there.”