KEY POINTS:
BRUSSELS - Discovery Channel will disband at the end of the season after failing to secure a new sponsor, the U.S.-based team's manager Johan Bruyneel told Belgian television on Friday.
"I had contacts with candidate sponsors but the situation in the sport is so bad that nobody wants to be involved with us," Bruyneel told VRT television in Dutch.
Team owners Tailwind Sports confirmed in a statement that the outfit, formerly known as US Postal, "will cease operations at the conclusion of the 2007 cycling season".
It was forced to search for a new backer after Discovery Channel executives opted not to renew their title sponsorship worth in the region of US$14 million ($19 million) a year.
With the sport blighted by doping cases, Bruyneel could not find a new sponsor.
Lance Armstrong, co-owner of the team in which he won seven consecutive Tour de France titles, said: "I don't think you have seen the last of this organisation in the sport but clearly things need to improve on many levels, with a more unified front, before you would see us venture back into cycling."
Bruyneel, who was Armstrong's mentor, added that he was also retiring from the team.
This year's Tour de France winner Alberto Contador also rides for the outfit. Founded in 1989, its riders have claimed eight Tour de France titles, one Giro d'Italia win and one Tour of Spain (Vuelta a Espana).
"After Armstrong, I wanted to win yet another Tour just once and that has happened. I have given it a lot of thought and I am satisfied that I have reached all I can with the team, so I'm stopping," Bruyneel said.
Bruyneel was in Madrid on Friday with Spaniard Contador, who held a press conference to proclaim himself a clean rider.
Last year, the 24 year-old was implicated in the Spanish anti-doping investigation Operation Puerto, but he was cleared by the International Cycling Union (UCI).
However, suspicions and allegations in the media resurfaced after Contador won last month's Tour de France which was dogged by doping scandals.
"I won the race cleanly and greatly enjoyed it," Contador said.
- REUTERS
