Durán leaves pro peloton

Geox-TMC rider Arkaitz Durán will spend 2012 racing on the Spanish amateur circuit, reports reliable Spanish website www.biciciclismo.com.

The 25-year-old, who's been a part of Geox-boss Joxean Fernández Matxin's outfit in its various guises since 2006, has failed to find a spot on a professional team in the wake of Geox's sudden withdrawal. As a result, he'll spend a year with Azysa-Conor - the outfit former Naturgas and Orbea rider Mikel Ilundain calls home.

The team enjoyed a dominant 2011 season and will look for similar success in 2012. It's improbable they'll be able to call on the services of Durán beyond that though: BiciCiclismo has it that the native of Vitoria is likely to return to the professional fold in 2013.