Dutchman Steven de Jongh, 52, is leaving his role as sports director at the cycling team Lidl-Trek after a decade, saying the departure was amicable and that with the team now among the sport's three biggest by budget, his challenge is gone. The exit comes as the German-registered squad pursues an ambitious aim of becoming the world's most successful, with Tour de France overall wins targeted for both its men's and women's teams, backed by new signings Felix Gall and Kasia Niewiadoma and the hiring of Grischa Niermann as chief sports officer. De Jongh, a former professional who admitted in 2012 to using EPO between 1998 and 2000, says he is in contact with other teams but does not yet know where he will work next season.