Quick.Step: Nuyens to go?

After his first ProTour victory at the Tour de Suisse on Monday, Nick Nuyens has finally catapulted himself in the limelight. The Belgian teammate of Tom Boonen already broke through in 2004, when he won the GP Wallonny and Paris-Brussels, but it was only after his victory in the Omloop Het Volk last year and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne that Nuyens was considered "the next big thing" at Quick.Step.

Now, with the yellow jersey of a ProTour race on his shoulders, the 25 year-old has fulfilled the promises of his young talent, and it is no surprise that Nuyens is courted by various teams for next season, as his agreement with Patrick Lefévère is running out According to the Belgian press, he has offers from Cofidis, Liquigas and Davitamon-Lotto. "But I also have had good talks with Lefévère," he pointed out to Sporza. "I will choose a combination of money and heart. Will I miss this squad? When you've worked four years together, you take that with you anyway."

Rumour has it that Nuyens has already chosen to depart for French Cofidis. Teammate and World Champion Boonen revealed that, "if Nuyens can earn as much as I think he can somewhere else, he has to go."

As for Milano-San Remo winner Filippo Pozzato, also in contract negotiations for the next few years, the 25 year-old has no desire for change. "I want to stay with the team," Pozzato said. "I'd like to continue to work with Tom Boonen. The World Champion and I have found each other this season." The other Italian in the team, Paolo Bettini, has proposals from T-Mobile, Liquigas and Lampre, and it is doubtful that team director Lefévère has the budget to hold all three: Boonen, Pozzato and Bettini. Contract talks are expected to continue with 'Il Grillo' this week.