UCI World road race Champion Mark Cavendish will not be joining Omega Pharma Quick Step for the 2012 season.
The Belgian based side have admitted to having talks with the sprint king who has been with HTC Highroad since 2006.
“Cavendish will not ride for us,” said Bessel Kok is quoted by www.cyclingnews.com as saying. “There have been discussions about his future, but both parties mutually agreed not to sign the contract.”
Team Sky still lead the way although Sky Team boss David Brailsford has admitted that they only had a verbal agreement with Cavendish and the situation at the moment was "complicated".