Movistar snap up Durán

Arkaitz Durán will make his return to the professional ranks next year in the colours of Movistar.

So says the ever-reliable BiciCiclismo. The 26-year-old of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, was forced to step down to the amateur ranks this year after his Geox-TMC team disbanded in late 2011, and has proved almost unbeatable in the colours of Azysa-Telco'm-Conor WRC. The former youth prodigy, who turned pro at the tender age of 19 back in 2005 with Matxin and Gianetti's later disgraced Saunier Duval-Prodir outfit, has triumphed a quite extraordinary 18 times so far this year, and has almost single-handedly made sure Azysa is the most-winning team on the Spanish amateur circuit this year.

There's no word on the length of his contract, but that's sure to be unveiled once Movistar confirm the signing.

Photo: El Diario Vasco