The rumoured transfer of Thor Hushovd from the Cervélo TestTeam to Garmin-Transitions is far from certain, with the Norwegian champion refusing to be drawn on the matter.
"I'm under contract with Cervélo for one more year, and that's what I’m focusing on,” Hushovd told procycling.no. “If the team shuts down, I'm no longer under contract, but until then this is not an issue to me."
Hushovd’s agent Alex Carera was more forthcoming however, confirming that his contract is under negotiation. “Cervélo and Garmin want to tie themselves to Thor Hushovd and several other riders,” he told procycling.no. “I’m going to meet Thor tomorrow to discuss things face to face.”
The American team is not the Norwegian’s only option though, as “big teams have contacted Thor in the last few days,” Carera said, “they want to investigate the possibility of him riding for them next season.”
Rumours that Garmin-Transitions and Cervélo are coming together are true, Carera claims, which would be a good thing for his client.
“After Sastre went and these new plans emerged it would naturally mean the end of the Cervélo TestTeam,” he said. “When [not ‘if’ – ed] Cervélo also goes into the equipment side of Garmin, it will be natural that the best riders will be carried over.
“Garmin is a very good team and Cervélo is a really good company,” he added. “The project has great potential. I think it has every opportunity to become a team in the very top echelons.”
Hushovd is currently in Spain, preparing to start the Vuelta a España in Sevilla on Saturday.