Nuyens has the world at his feet

After a successful Spring Classics campaign, which included a second place at the Tour of Flanders, Cofidis' Nick Nuyens has a luxury problem. Due to his good results he has a number of high profile teams chasing his signature for the 2009 season. His contract with French ProTour team Cofidis expires at the end of the season.

"Most of the big teams who are looking for a leader at the Classics have come knocking," Nuyens confirmed in Belgian cycling magazine Cyclo Sprint.

However the most successful Belgian team of the spring, with wins in Flanders and Roubaix, Quick Step is not among the teams Nuyens is contemplating. "If I signed for Patrick Lefevere it would mean taking a step backwards," he explained. "I don't want to do that. Riding for Lefevere means sacrificing your own chances for [Tom] Boonen and [Paolo] Bettini.

"I think that I have shown over the past few months that I can handle the role of leader," he added. "I have also shown that I can make a real team out of a bunch of individualists – which is what Cofidis was. Cofidis has become very strong, and many are scared of us."

Nuyens has not ruled out the idea of re-signing for Cofidis. "The process has already begun," he revealed. "We will see what comes of it."

If he were to stay, the Belgian would like to see a big sprinter come onboard. "Both Thor Hushovd and Wouter Weylandt will be available," he said. "I have asked the team to make them an offer. Now we are riding for bread and water in big Tours. A sprinter would change all that."