Sastre and Kreuziger both off to pastures new in 2011

With the cycling transfer season now in full swing, Carlos Sastre and Roman Kreuziger are the latest high-profile riders to confirm that they will be riding in new colours next season.

Sastre, aged 35, will be leaving Cervélo TestTeam to join Geox, the new name of Footon-Servetto, which has brought the Italian footwear brand on board as title sponsor. Footon and Servetto will continue to sponsor the team, but will no longer feature in its name.

In a statement on his website, the 2008 Tour de France winner said that he was excited at the prospect of riding for the team in 2011.

“The trust that they‘ve placed in me since the very first conversations has been the most important factor that has pushed me towards this new project, but the background and experience of its leaders has also had an influence as they’ve been in cycling for years and years", said Sastre.

“At the moment, I’m enjoying riding more than ever as I’ve rediscovered the fighting cyclist that’s always been inside me. This new challenge is exciting and it will provide me with what I’ve been fighting for all my life”, he continued.

However, he underlined his commitment to Cervélo TestTeam in the forthcoming Vuelta, which starts a week on Saturday. “This decision will not alter anything regarding my participation in the Vuelta a España. What’s more, it is spurring me on even more to fight it out in a race that I really like and which I feel a lot of respect and fondness for. Now I just hope that the team will give me the chance to race with team mates who, like me, want to fight for this race,” he said.

Cervélo co-founder Gerard Vroomen said: “We would like to thank Carlos for his contribution to the Cervélo TestTeam in the past two years, and for a great collaboration during his eight years of riding a Cervélo. We have fond memories of this period, with of course his 2008 Tour de France victory as the absolute highlight."

"We wish him the best for the future and are convinced he will ride a great Vuelta. Our team will support him in the best possible way,” Vroomen continued.

Kreuziger, meanwhile, who finished ninth in last year’s Tour de France, moves from Liquigas to Astana, where he will lead the team’s challenge in next year’s race following the departure of Alberto Contador.

Seen as one of the sport’s brightest young prospects, the 24-year-old Czech’s ambitions at Liquigas are limited by the return of Ivan Basso and the emergence of Vicenzo Nibali, respectively first and third in this year’s Giro d’Italia.

New team mate Alexander Vinokouorov said on the Astana website: "I am pleased that the team has reached an agreement with Roman Kreuziger, we are currently finalizing contracts to submit very soon a new roster for next season that represent with power and pride the colors of Kazakhstan ."