“The past few years have not gone as hoped" - David de la Cruz fears being forced into early retirement as he searches for contract

With his time at the Astana Qazaqstan Team coming to an end, David de la Cruz is finding it more difficult than he first expected to find a new contract.

“The past few years have not gone as hoped," admits the 34-year-old Spaniard in an open and honest conversation with Marca. "Not for myself, but also not for the team," he continues, referencing Astana Qazaqstan Team's poor general classification results over the recent seasons.

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Having ridden in the past for notable teams such as UAE Team Emirates, Team Sky and the Quick-Step set-up, de la Cruz was once seen as a potential Grand Tour winner of the future but sadly that's not quite how things transpired. At his most recent Grand Tour, he abandoned the Vuelta a Espana with gastroenteritis following stage 15.

“I am at my best in a thinned peloton and when I can work for an important classification rider," de la Cruz insists. Time will tell if he gets the chance to prove himself once again in 2024.