Vanhuffel joins queue for a new team

Former Silence-Lotto stalwart Wim Vanhuffel is on the hunt for a new team after the proposed H20-Telteck squad failed to materialise. Sporza has reported that H20 had no license, because there was no bank guarantee.

Vanhuffel said that there are rumours the team had no sponsors, and despite wanting to hire riders such as himself and Jan Kuyckx – both committed themselves in the hope that the necessary funds would become available – there was no security over the team's future.

"On Boxing Day, we received an e-mail from the team. It didn't say much, except that the team wouldn't happen," said Vanhuffel. "It's finished. We are free, our contract is worth nothing," he added.

Vanhuffel explained that his own future isn't much more secure than that of the failed team, and he isn't alone in his predicament. "I still have a few issues and I've contacted some people," he said. "But I'm not alone. There are 50 Spanish riders 'on the street'. It doesn't look good. Maybe one day I'll just say that it's over."

(Additional editorial assistance by Susan Westemeyer)