Friday 20 June 2014 15:23, UK
Belkin has announced its intention to withdraw from cycling at the end of 2014, leaving their Dutch team seeking a new sponsor.
The search for a new backer has begun immediately, with the UCI World Tour team expressing its disappointment by Belkin's withdrawal, which the electronics firm attributed to a change of brand strategy.
Belkin took over sponsorship of the team just prior to last year's Tour de France after they ran half a season as Blanco Pro Cycling in the wake of Rabobank's withdrawal over doping controversies.
Their current roster includes Grand Tour contender Bauke Mollema, classics specialist Sep Vanmarcke and sprinter Lars Boom.
A Belkin statement read: "Belkin entered into cycling last year with the aim to increase brand awareness and subsequently sales revenue.
"While initial brand awareness results increased for the Belkin brand throughout Europe, the company strategy is to be more globally focused for all of the Belkin International brands."
The team's managing director Richard Plugge said: "We have full confidence in the future and expect to appear with a new sponsor on the shirt at the start of the 2015 season.
"We are a Dutch procycling team with an international image and World Tour status, therefore we expect to find a new title sponsor.
"We were already in conversation with additional sponsors and still have sponsorship opportunities open for the upcoming Tour de France."
