Sep Vanmarcke is on the hunt for a new team, arguing that he “cannot afford to wait” for Jonathan Vaughters to secure the future of the Cannondale-Drapac team.
The Belgian, who leads the American team at the spring Classics, said he was shocked at last week’s news that he and the rest of the riders and staff had been released from their 2018 contracts, with a sponsorship shortfall meaning the team cannot continue beyond this season unless team manager Vaughters finds last-minute backing.
“I thought everything was alright. Dylan van Baarle and Rigoberto Urán had even signed up. And suddenly that message,” said Vanmarcke at the GP Plouay race at the weekend, according to Het Nieuwsblad.
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Vanmarcke explained that the riders were told about the situation via email on Saturday, after the team received what it described as “discouraging news about a new partner we anticipated joining us in 2018.” That partner is reported to be the betting company Unibet, though the team refused to confirm or deny this when contacted by Cyclingnews.
Vanmarcke must have felt a sense of déjà vu, for this is the third time he has found himself in such a position. Just days after signing for the Rabobank team in late 2012, the Dutch bank announced it was pulling out, though the team did continue as ‘Blanco’ with prolonged Rabobank investment. Belkin then stepped in as a new sponsor but half-way through the 2014 season the consumer electronics company announced it was off, and the riders faced yet more uncertainty.
Vanmarcke stayed with the team as new investment was found and it became LottoNL-Jumbo, though his agent had started negotiating with other teams, and that looks to be the case once again.
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