AG2R La Mondiale team leader Romain Bardet could be on the move to German team Sunweb, Dutch media reported. The team is the leading candidate to acquire the 29-year-old Bardet in 2021, and several other teams have expressed interest.

Sunweb's Grand Tour leader Tom Dumoulin moved to Jambovisma last winter, and young GC talent Sam Oomen could also be on the move. According to De Telegraaf, Bardet seems to be the most likely candidate.

The Dutch newspaper reported that team boss Ivan Spekenbrink has already made an offer to Bardet, one of the top climbers on the market this off-season; since turning pro with AG2R in 2012, Trek Segafredo and Mitchelton Scott reportedly interested in the Frenchman.

"Yes, Romain is interested in going elsewhere, but nothing has been recorded. Neither with Sunweb nor with any other team," Balde's agent, Juna Laukka, told De Telegraaf. 'It's easy to write down the names of the teams he might go to. Even if you can't be 100% sure about all the players, they are teams with a strong ethic."

Team boss Vincent Lavene, who is expected to offer Bardet a new contract after two podium finishes at the Tour de France, said he could understand Bardet's desire to look elsewhere.

"Romain was in our development team at Chambéry. He grew up with us and helped us grow," Lavigne told L'Equipe. Our story is not over yet. Our story is not over yet."

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"But I understand that after two difficult years, he wants to see what others have to offer.

Bardet will return to the Tour de France this year, having been down for the Giro d'Italia before COVID-19 made significant changes to the 2020 season. Bardet has also expressed interest in his first attempts at Paris-Roubaix and the Tour de Flanders.

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