Contador splits from Astana team

Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will not renew his contract with the Astana team.

‘Although the position of both parties was not so far from each other, the team wanted to know urgently whether or not (he would renew his contract)’,said a statement from Contador's press officer.

‘Alberto Contador has rejected the ultimatum of Astana,’the statement read, adding the Kazakh-funded team had expected a decision by Tuesday at the latest.

Contador, 27, joined Astana in 2008 after the Discovery Channel team was disbanded following the Pinto-born rider's Tour triumph in 2007.

With Astana, the three-times Tour champion won the Tour de France twice (2009 and 2010), the Giro and Vuelta (both 2008).