Elia Viviani 'could leave Sky before Vuelta a España'
Italian sprinter could quit Team Sky in unusual mid-season move as he searches for a Grand Tour role in 2017


Elia Viviani could leave Team Sky as early as August to race the Vuelta a España, reports Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.
The Italian, overlooked for the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, wants to race a Grand Tour in 2017. The article says that Viviani has agreed to a two-year deal with Giuseppe Saronni's UAE Emirates team.
Saronni, who also showed interest in Geraint Thomas before he extended his Sky contract, would take Viviani to the Vuelta to lead his sprint team.
UAE already includes Sacha Modolo and, though not a pure sprinter, Ben Swift.
Mid-season moves are rare, but not impossible in cycling. Rohan Dennis switched teams from Garmin to BMC Racing in 2014, and Carlos Verona left Etixx-Quick Step for Orica last year.
Watch: My toughest day, by Elia Viviani
Those close to the deal consider it likely the Viviani will stay through 2017, but will definitely break his current contract, which runs through 2018.
The 28-year-old from Verona placed ninth in Milan-San Remo and has sprinted to victory in stages in the Tour de Romandie and the Route du Sud this year. In the 2015 Giro d'Italia, he won a stage in Genoa.
The beginning of the end of his relationship with the team may have come when he was omitted from the 2017 Giro. He said he was "very upset" and needed to talk seriously with management after racing his home Grand Tour in previous years.
Sky this year banked everything on the Giro classification with two leaders and helpers to support them. Unfortunately, both Geraint Thomas and Mikel Landa crashed on stage nine due to a parked police motorbike. Thomas retired from the race a few days later and Landa eventually won the King of the Mountain classification.
During the race, Viviani reportedly met with Sky boss David Brailsford about the situation. Viviani instead went to the Tour of California and to the Limburg Hammer Series.
The situation at Team Sky may not change soon for Viviani. Priorities are centred on Chris Froome for the Tour de France, where he already counts three titles, and for the Vuelta a España.
The only way it could change, as the article says, is if Viviani hits the eject button.
The Italian returns to racing today in the Tour of Austria, racing in national team colours.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Fabio Jakobsen 'fairytale' keeps Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl flying high at Tour de France
Yves Lampaert might have lost the yellow jersey, but two wins in two days mean an almost-perfect Grand Départ
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Wout Van Aert into yellow on Tour de France stage two after 'boring' bridge
Belgian finishes second for 25th time, but this podium placing came with a bonus
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I had proper fever and chills' - Adam Yates bounces back from Covid for Tour de France
British rider heads to fifth Tour de France as one of Ineos Grenadiers' leader, but with doubts over form
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I’m just going to try and enjoy myself' — Geraint Thomas readies himself for his 12th Tour de France
Ineos Grenadiers are targeting the yellow jersey with Thomas, Adam Yates and Dani Martínez
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Dismiss Geraint Thomas at your peril' — Bradley Wiggins sees Welshman as Tour de France 'underdog'
Ineos Grenadiers rider will head to Tour off the back of Tour de Suisse win
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Covid threatens to disrupt Tour de France line-up
Virus sweeps through the peloton at key preparation races with Tour de Suisse race leader Vlasov forced to abandon
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Adam Yates out of Tour de Suisse with covid
Brit returns a positive test for coronavirus but the rest of Ineos Grenadiers will race on in Switzerland.
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Can anyone stop the Jumbo juggernaut? Five talking points from the Critérium du Dauphiné
Wout van Aert and Primož Roglič are the best at the French race, but the Tour de France is another level up
By Adam Becket • Published
-
A 'dangerous mistake' — Juan Sebastián Molano disqualified from Critérium du Dauphiné for hitting Hugo Page
Colombian sprinted thrown out of race after striking Frenchman on camera late on Friday's stage
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Filippo Ganna storms to time trial victory on stage four of the Critérium du Dauphiné
Wout van Aert second on stage yet again, Belgian remains in yellow jersey with increased lead
By Adam Becket • Published