It’s not even the end of the season, but riders and teams are already jostling for new contracts for 2003.

Top of the list of possible moves is Giro d’ Italia winner, Paulo Salvodelli. The Italian has made it clear his career no longer lies with his current team Alexia, however he has yet to find a team willing to meet his hefty pay demands. But with Mapei pulling out of the sport at the end of the year, Salvodelli could struggle to find the contract he wants.

Another Italian who is set to move on before the start of next year is Francesco Casagrande. The 31-year-old joined Fasso Bortolo in 2001, but after two disappointing seasons he has failed to win a single major event and was thrown off this year’s Giro for forcing a rider into the barriers. Miguel Indurain’s former team, ibanesto look set to snap up the Italian before the Vuelta next month.

One rider who is staying put is CSC-Tiscali’s Michael Sandtod, who has extended his contract for a further two years. The Dane is the current national road race and time trial champion, but crashed out of this year’s Tour de France with broken ribs, a broken shoulder and a punctured lung.