Trek-Segafredo considers early termination of Antonio Tiberi's contract as Astana Qazaqstan expresses interest

Trek-Segafredo and Antonio Tiberi's relationship has been rocky, and there are reports that the team is mulling over the possibility of ending Tiberi's contract early, thus giving him an opportunity to join Astana Qazaqstan.

Following his court fine in San Marino for killing a cat with a gun, Tiberi was suspended without pay for 20 days by his team, who condemned the act as "reprehensible" and created tension between them.

A statement was released by the team in response to the incident, condemning the rider's actions and promising to take action against him. “The team was previously unaware of the transgression and has immediately suspended Antonio for a minimum of 20 days without pay. He will not race at Trofeo Laigueglia, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano-Torino. If necessary, the team will take further action in the future,” read the statement.

The team appears to be following through on their promise of taking action, as La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that they are considering terminating the rider's contract. “Talks are currently underway and the possibility of an early termination of the contract is on the table," the newspaper wrote two weeks ago.

Reports from the newspaper suggest that Astana Qazaqstan is interested in recruiting the Italian rider and is evaluating the option of a mid-season transfer from his current team, Trek-Segafredo, with the rider's climbing abilities being a valuable asset for the team.