Rujano leaves Quickstep

The 24-year-old rose to prominence in 2005 while riding with Colombia-Selle Italia, winning stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia as well as the King of the Mountains competition.

But Jojo, as he has been dubbed, admitted his first season with Quickstep had fallen well below his expectations.

"I want to say thanks to the riders and the staff of the Quickstep-Innergetic team for the months we have spent together," he told the team's website.

"Unfortunately I haven't succeeded in reaching the objectives that I had set myself with the team because of some personal problems that have affected my season. I wish the team all the best for next season," he added.

Meanwhile, the Belgian outfit have announced that French veteran Cedric Vasseur will be included in the team's roster for the 2007 season, his last in professional cycling.