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HTC Withdraw From UCI ProTour
Lack of long-term funding forces team to fold
Posted Aug 09, 2011 by Chris White
Since its inception in 2008, the HTC Highroad team has been one of the most successful teams on the UCI ProTour, racking up 484 race wins and 54 grand tour stages. However, after failing to secure long-term sponsors the team has decided to fold at the end of this year.
Team owner Bob Stapleton broke the news on the team website, and said “the dedication shown by our athletes, management team and staff year after year has been exceptional. Together they have created on of the most successful teams in cycling’s history. After an exhaustive search to secure long-term sponsorship, we have concluded it’s time to release these team members to pursue other options.”
The team, which Stapleton believes are “the most sought after in the sport” includes riders such as this year’s green jersey winner at the Tour de France, Isle of Man rider Mark Cavendish, were set for an overhaul in the close season anyway, with Cavendish confessing that he was to leave the team at the end of the year, with just twelve months remaining on his current contract.
Cavendish, who said that he knows where he is going, refused to tell the media, although the favourites to land the sprinter are British-based Team Sky.