BRUSSELS, Sept 30, 2008 (AFP) – Belgian rider Maxime Monfort announced Monday that he will quit French team Cofidis at the end of this season to race for Columbia over the next two years.

The 25-year-old was still under contract with Cofidis, and Columbia would have had to pay an indemnity to release him.

Monfort becomes the fifth Belgian to have decided to leave Cofidis at season’s end.

Nick Nuyens is joining Rabobank, Staf Scheirlinckx the Silence team, and Kevin De Weert has signed for Quick Step.

Rik Verbrugghe will retire as a rider and become sporting director at Quick Step in 2009.