Rui Costa on his way out from UAE Team Emirates

Rui Costa joined UAE Team Emirates' old structure back in 2014 - when it was at that time called Lampre - Merida - and 2022 will be his final year, as 2023 holds a new challenge for the Portuguese rider.

In a report from Topcycling.pt it is said Costa is not only on his way out but already has a deal with a "top international project". Although it was not confirmed which team he would be joining, it was proposed that he might join EF Education-EasyPost, Movistar Team, Cofidis or B&B Hotels. Over the last few years he has came down to a domestique role in the successful team, however with a lot of experience and expertise in the classics which proves to be more crucial than ever with the increase of young riders reaching top level very quickly.

The former World champion announced yesterday on Instagram that he will be following a Spanish calendar for the coming weeks, as several riders who will target the Vuelta a España: Prueba Villafranca; Vuelta a Castilla y Léon; Clásica San Sebastián and the Vuelta a Burgos.

However he will not likely be racing the Spanish Grand Tour, as he will look to focus on the Canadian classics where he has in the past succeeded, aswell as other hilly classics and the World championships which will suit him rather well.