Contador hopes to race in own team for 2017 Tour de France

MADRID (AP) Spanish rider Alberto Contador hopes to compete in the Tour de France with his own professional team next year if he can raise enough money.

The two-time Tour de France champion, who previously indicated he would retire at the end of the 2016 season, said it was ''increasingly likely'' he would ride in 2017 if his team could get ''top-level status and compete in the Tour.''

He spoke at the unveiling Monday of the Alberto Contador Foundation's junior and sub-23 teams in Madrid.

The 33-year-old Contador said his new team needs to raise 15 million euros ($16.7 million) to sustain a professional squad. He was ''optimistic and confident something good can come of this'' but added his chances were ''around 50 percent.''

Contador is currently part of the Tinkoff team.