Katusha-Alpecin general director José Azevedo has confirmed that he will not stay with the team even if its future is secured beyond 2019. Azevedo notified the Katusha board that he will not seek a contract renewal next year, leaving the team's future uncertain.

Co-sponsor Alpecin and bike supplier Canyon are set to pull out at the end of the season, and despite reports and rumors of a merger involving several existing teams, the team's future is bleak: only 11 riders are under contract for 2020, and due to financial uncertainty, new riders and contracts have not been signed.

"No decision has been made yet. There are several possibilities, and there are people on the team who are considering them, but we are still waiting for a decision," Azevedo told Cycling News at the Tour of Britain.

Azevedo insisted that the 11 riders under contract for 2020, including Alex Dowsett and Nils Pollitt, must refrain from negotiating with other teams, despite the uncertainty floating around. Azevedo, however, argued that the riders not under contract had management approval to work to protect their careers.

"The 11 riders with contracts need to wait for the negotiations to be completed and wait to see what happens to their teams. The other riders whose contracts have ended are free to talk to other teams. The 11 riders with contracts need to wait."

When asked about Pollitt, who will have no shortage of offers given his performance this season, Azevedo stuck to the party line.

"He has a contract and these negotiations include 11 riders. The team has partial license agreements with those 11 riders. I understand the feeling on the part of the riders; it's September and they are concerned, but that's the situation until a decision is made."

"What will happen?

"What we are saying to the riders is that results in the races are the future. If the team continues, we have a contract for next year. If the team quits, the results will help them find their next contract."

"If the team quits, the results will help them find their next contract.

"It can be a little difficult for the top guys, but they are professionals and they need to do their job. They don't have the authority to make decisions for the team."

Even if the team survives next season, Azevedo will not be involved in their future. He has already warned the board that he will not seek an extension of his current contract, which expires at the end of 2019. Instead, he will look for a job with another team with the goal of returning as director sportif.

"Regardless of whether the team continues or not, I have already informed the team's board that I will do my job until the end of this year and then stop. My contract ends this year and after that I want to be the sports director. That's what I want to do again; in 2020 I'm free."

As in most such scenarios, it is the players who have the most to lose. They must remain professional despite the fact that they may face the prospect of unemployment in a few weeks' time. Azevedo insisted that management is still trying to find a solution, but when asked why it is taking so long to make a decision, he said he is not sure.

"I don't know," he said. 'In the negotiation process, there are always multiple parties involved in a deal. Agreements take time and it's a process."

"Everyone wants to hear positive news, but until it comes out everyone has to wait. Otherwise they would have said they would stop the team in July or August."