Kristian Sbaragli is still looking for a new team for 2024 after having his new contract denied by Alpecin-Deceuninck. After four years, he is leaving the Belgian team. “It can happen,” said the 33-year-old Italian to the Dutch website WielerFlits. “But it wasn’t a surprise to me.”
Earlier this week, the Alpecin-Deceuninck team revealed its complete roster for the 2024 WorldTeam. Unfortunately, Sbaragli was not included in the selection, but the former rider of Dimension Data and Israel Cycling Academy had known this for quite some time. “We have been talking a lot in recent months. The team’s project will be a bit different in the coming years,” says Sbaragli.
“I really enjoyed the last four years here. I’m leaving the team, but with good feelings and beautiful memories. It’s like that on both sides, but that’s also cycling,” he says. The team management revealed that his age influenced the decision but they are mainly saying goodbye to “a good rider and a good man.”
Leaving cycling is not ruled out
Sbaragli’s future is still uncertain. “I haven’t signed anything yet, but I hope to find something acceptable for my future. I’m still relatively young, or at least not very old, but I don’t want to race just for the sake of it.”
“Stopping is always an option, but I’d like to avoid that. That’s why I have to carefully consider which team and which project suits me. Discussions are still ongoing, but nothing has been signed yet.”