Belgian time trial champion Kristof Vandewalle has long been rumoured to be leaving Omega Pharma-Quick Step. Yesterday both he and team manager Patrick Lefevre confirmed the departure to CyclingQuotes.com. The Belgian will focus further on his time trial strength and hopes to potentially perform well in shorter stage races in the future.

Back in August, Gazet van Antwerpen reported that Kristof Vandewalle was likely to sign a contract with Trek but since then nothing has emerged on the future for the Belgian time trial champion. The Belgian has been firmly focused on his main end-of-season target, the world team time trial championships.

With his mission of taking a repeat win in the collective discipline now accomplished, the double world champion confirmed to CyclingQuotes.com that he will indeed leave the team next year. Team manager Patrick Lefevre made it clear to CyclingQuotes.com that three of the riders that were part of yesterday's winning ride will leave the team next year, Vandewalle being joined by Peter Velits and Sylvain Chavanel who have announced contracts with BMC and IAM respectively.

The identity of Vandewalle's future team still hasn't been revealed with Lotto Belisol also being a possible destination but the Belgian has had the time to reflect on what he wants to accomplish in his future surroundings. With two Belgian time trial championships and two world team time trial championships under his belt, he has mostly been known as a time trial specialist and he plans to further develop his skills in the discipline.

Many shorter stage races are, however, mostly decided on time trials and Vandewalle hopes to add to his stage race palmares that already includes an overall win in this year's Driedaagse van de West-Vlaanderen. On that occasion, he laid the foundations for his overall win by winning the prologue and he hopes to repeat that performance in the future.

"I think I will focus further on the time trial because it is a discipline which is growing," Vandewalle told CyclingQuotes.com after yesterday's win. "I have a good feeling about it. Maybe I can also use my good time trial to set some goals in small stage races and try to go for nice GC results in such races."

On Wednesday, Vandewalle will line up in his second Worlds time trial. He explained his expectations to CyclingQuotes.com as you can read more about here.