Lefevere still hopes to sign Contador

Patrick Lefevere, manager of the Quick Step team, still hopes to sign Alberto Contador for the 2010 season "There are three candidates for Alberto to choose: Garmin, Caisse d'Epargne and us," Lefevere told De Telegraaf.

Lefevere, in attendance at Wednesday's presentation in Paris of the 2010 Tour de France, wants the two-time Tour de France champion to choose his team and he's stated that Contador could select four teammates if he joins the Belgian ProTour squad next year.

Contador, 26, has one more year in his contract with Astana and the team has already said he would remain for 2010. Contador said in recent months, however, that he prefers to leave the team. A move by Contador to another squad, however, is complicated by the fact that his Astana contract lacks a buy-out clause.

"This [Astana] team is not the same as that which he was signed," said Lefevere. "No fewer than 24 people have since moved from Astana. I do not know if, and when, Alberto will be released. It is evident that we change our team if he chooses us. He can choose four teammates."

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