Contador to stay at Astana insists Kazakh official

TWO-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will see out the final year of his contract with Astana, according to Kazakh Cycling Federation deputy president Nikolai Proskurin.

BETTER TIMES: Alberto Contador secured a second Tour de France title in July but his Astana future remains in doubt (Getty Images)

Contador has one year remaining on his deal with the Kazakh-funded team but has consistently been linked to a move to Garmin-Slipstream or Caisse d'Epargne.

The 26-year-old added a second Tour de France title to his 2007 triumph in July, with Astana rival Lance Armstrong third.

And after Astana team missed the preliminary deadline for renewal of their ProTour licence, Contador looked set to leave Astana.

But Proskurin insists Contador will be an Astana rider in 2010.  

"We have absolutely no problems with Alberto Contador and he will compete with Astana next season," said Proskurin.

On the delay in having their ProTour licence renewed, he explained: "The issue is simply that we need to provide additional documents because we have changed our sponsors."

But while Proskurin thinks Contador will remain with Astana, the Spainard is not so sure.

"The stories coming out in the media about the possibility of my contract being terminated make it sound very simple," said Contador. "I assure you it is not so simple.

"My future career is being decided right now and I think, between this week and next, many of the doubts and unknowns that assail us now will be cleared.

"Evidently Astana is another option and you have to think about that possibility.

"[The options are] with Garmin or Caisse d'Epargne, but also Astana, with whom I still have a one year contract. It seems they are doing a new project that is taking shape."

Meanwhile, Team Sky have bolstered their ranks by signing Michael Barry, Chris Sutton and Serge Pauwels.

Australian Sutton - winner of the opening stage of this year's Tour of Britain before finishing second overall behind new Sky team-mate Edvald Boasson Hagen - has long been linked with a move to Dave Brailsford's outfit.

While Canadian Barry and Belgian Pauwels continue to add to the international flavour of the now 19-strong squad, which includes six Brits - Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh, Steve Cummings, Chris Froome, Ian Stannard and Russell Downing.

"These new signings will strengthen our profile even further with regards to both the classics and the big stage races," said Brailsford.

But the trail has gone cold on Bradley Wiggins - who equalled the British best of fourth place in this year's Tour de France - whose move to Team Sky could rely on Contador signing for Garmin.