Fabian Cancellara: 'My future is with Trek, but not as a sports director'

Fabian Cancellara's career as a professional cyclist is almost at a close, but the Swiss Classics legend doesn't see his time in the sport coming to an end just yet.

Like many former pros, Cancellara plans to move behind the scenes to help develop the next generation of Grand Tour and Classics winners, but not necessarily from behind the wheel of a support car.

The three-time Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders winner confirmed he won't be working as a sports director with the team next year, but is confident of finding a role that suits him with Trek-Segafredo next year.

"I can now deny that I will be a sports director next year at Trek. I see more of a future for myself in the second line of the sport," said Cancellara, quoted in Sporza.

"Making decisions in a car is not for me. Of course I still love cycling and my future definitely lies with Trek. What [role] or how, we will have to see.

"I want to do something constructive. Appearing in quotes, some waving and shaking hands is great, but it should be something more. A form of youth [development] is something I see myself doing."

Cancellara could find himself working alongside former CSC ProTeam team-mate Ivan Basso at Trek next season, who is following Alberto Contador from Tinkoff to take up a technical role.

The Italian, who retired soon after successful treatment for testicular cancer diagnosed at the 2015 Tour de France, will work with Trek's young riders and development squads.

Trek-Segafredo have signed Giant-Alpecin's John Degenkolb to lead the Classics team in 2017, with Contador coming in to improve the team's chances in the Grand Tours next year.