Australian world time trial champion Michael Rogers, who is considered a future contender for the Tour de France yellow jersey, is set to leave Quick Step to join the T-Mobile outfit of Jan Ullrich, according to reports.

The 25-year-old is the reigning two-time world time trial champion and is currently leading the Tour of Switzerland going into Saturday's penultimate stage.

Although the official announcement for his move to Ullrich's team will not be until September - the beginning of the transfer period - Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevere admitted to Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday that Rogers would soon be leaving his talent-rich team.

"It's a pity," said Lefevere. "But it's a reality. He's leaving us."

Lefevere did not confirm which team Rogers would be heading to, although the Belgian manager admitted the future potential of Rogers meant they could no longer afford to keep him on a team that also boasts Olympic champion Paolo Bettini and Belgian star Tom Boonen.

"When I heard the price from his manager, Paul De Geyter, I said 'Good luck.’ The problem is that riders of his level are paid for what they are expected to achieve, not on the basis of what they've achieved in the past.

"But he will not be substituted for another big Tour hope. We simply cannot pay for that."

When contacted by AFP, Quick Step press spokesman Alessandro Tegner confirmed the news.

"Yes, it's true, and it is T-Mobile he will be going to," he said.