Alberto Contador joins Trek-Segafredo

As expected, Alberto Contador will be joining Trek-Segafredo for the 2017 season.

The 33-year-old, one of only two current riders to have won all three Grand Tours – the other is Vincenzo Nibali – finished fourth overall in the Vuelta on Sunday.

The Spanish rider moves from Tinkoff, which is folding at the end of this year.

He joined the team – then known as Saxo Bank – the year after beating Andy Schleck to the yellow jersey in the Tour de France.

Contador would be stripped of that title, and his 2011 Giro d’Italia win, as a result of his positive test for clenbuterol on the 2010 Tour.

Schleck, and his brother Franck, headed to the newly established Leopard team for 2011, the predecessor to Trek-Segafredo.

Joining him at his new team will be his long-time domestique Jesús Hernández as well as sports director Steven de Jongh.

“I am thrilled about the opportunity that is in front of me,” said Contador, who had earlier hinted strongly that 2016 would be his final season in the top flight.

“Trek-Segafredo is a very attractive and ambitious project that really inspires me.

“I had some excellent conversations with the team management, and we have a lot of goals and priorities in common.

“The big objective is to try and win the most important races on the calendar – first and foremost the Tour de France.”

Team manager Luca Guercilena commented: “Alberto is a formidable rider and a real fighter. He’s a champion.

“There is really no one like Alberto in the current peloton, and we are very happy to welcome him to the team.

“With Alberto, I believe we are taking the next step in developing our team. Next year we’ll be stronger and all-around better and broader,” he added.

Contador has seven Grand Tours to his name - the 2007 and 2009 Tour de France, the 2008 and 2015 Giro d'Italia, and the 2008, 2012 and 2014 Vuelta.