The news that Oleg Tinkov will quit cycling and sell his team after 2016 is no knockout blow for leading sports director Steven De Jongh. The Dutchman is planning to set up a cycling team for himself. "I have actually played with that idea for two years. This might be the right time," he told De Telegraaf.

Tinkov has decided to sell his team because the commercial objectives have been met and because he gets little support in his attempt to change cycling. "Wherever I can, I will listen and try to find out whether there's an interested sponsor because my goal for 2017 is to have a team myself," De Jongh explained his ambition.

De Jongh was not surprised by the news that Tinkov will quit. "For me it is not a complete surprise that the team will cease to exist and I'm not really worried about my future. Furthermore, my contract will expire at the end of 2016," he said.

The likelihood that Alberto Contador will be riding for his team in 2017 is small. "The intention is that Alberto will retire after next year unless the Tour is a complete failure. But I'm not expecting that. That's the goal we are working towards."

De Jongh took over the main responsibility for the sporting aspect when Tinkov parted ways with former manage Bjarne Riis.