Sean Yates linked to Tinkoff-Saxo for 2015

Sean Yates has been linked to a move to the Tinkoff-Saxo team for the 2015 season, having completed a year as directeur sportif for British outfit NFTO.

After retiring from competing in the sport, Yates started his career as sports director in 2003 with CSC - a former incarnation of the current Tinkoff-Saxo team. He served as DS for Sky from its inception in 2010 up until October 2012, when he 'retired' from his position with the British WorldTour team in the wake of the team’s internal interviews following the Lance Armstrong USADA doping case.

Yates, 54, returned to the role with NFTO this year, notably at the Tour of Britain and the RideLondon-Surrey Classic, won by the squad's Adam Blythe.

“I'm looking to get back into Europe, but nothing's confirmed,” Yates said. “I think everybody is aware that my time at Team Sky ended it before I wanted it to. There's still a big part of me yearning to go back and finish my time as a DS on my own terms.”