States talks are still ongoing, team is also speaking to potential backers in the Middle East
Responding to an article on the website Sponsoring.fr which claimed that the Vacansoleil company had taken the decision to cease its sponsorship of the WorldTour team, team spokesman Frank Kwanten has raised questions over the veracity of the story.
“For us it is a strange message, and it doesn’t relate to any source or anything. I think it is more a rumour,” he told VeloNation today. “They are considering the situation…we haven’t heard anything from Vacansoleil. We know there are meetings in the next couple of weeks about the matter, so I think this is premature.”
The team has been backed for several seasons by the Vacansoleil company but that deal is up for renewal and it is as yet uncertain what the company will do. “They are really happy with the return,” said Kwanten. However there is a complicating factor. “Cycling is very popular in Germany, an important market for Vacansoeil, but the problem is that the media coverage is only on Eurosport there. That is something we cannot solve for them. They need to consider it themselves. We expect to know in a couple of weeks.”
According to Cyclingonline.nl, team manager Daan Luijkx is working on a backup plan just in case the extension doesn’t happen. He has been in discussions with parties in the Middle East, saying that globalization makes it more possible to get backers from outside Europe. “We are looking for a long term partner…there are a few international players who have already shown concrete interest. We can provide a big return for what is a relatively small budget.”
What is important, according to Kwanten, is that some key riders have indicated that they want to continue with the team. “Wout Poels and Thomas [De Gendt] really want to stay here…they feel at home” Even with the uncertainty, they are willing to declare that they hope to be part of the setup next year.