Robbie Hunter has left his role as a director sportif at Cannondale-Garmin in order to pursue another career in cycling.

“I’m looking around and have a couple of options, but I’m not going to be working with any teams as such,” he told Cyclingnews.

“I prefer to spend some time at home as I have young kids at home still. I’ve spent too much time away, and I have a couple of things on the cards. I want to stay in cycling and work with athletes, so I’m just looking at my options going forward.”

Hunter, who rode for the team before stepping into one of their cars, says he isn’t interested in being a DS with another team and instead he wants to help African riders who are breaking through into the pro scene. Hunter, from South Africa, was the first African to take a Tour de France stage.

“I’m not going forward with being a DS in whatever team as I’d like to pursue my own interest and that includes looking after riders and possibly working for a sports management company. What I’m really trying to do is look after the African contingent of guys who are coming through. There are a whole lot of really talented guys, and I’m trying to give them opportunities, but not all the teams look at them in the same light because not many of them get to race as amateurs. They’re fantastic riders, so they just need the right opportunities.”