Belkin "has announced its intention to withdraw from cycling at the end of 2014, leaving their Dutch team seeking a new sponsor," according to SKY SPORTS. The search for a new backer "has begun immediately," with the Int'l Cycling Union 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 at the start of the '13 season "after they ran for a season as Blanco Pro Cycling in the wake of Rabobank's withdrawal over doping controversies" (SKY SPORTS, 6/17). CYCLING NEWS noted Belkin Pro Cycling Managing Dir Richard Plugge said, "We will now start an intensive search for a new sponsor to be able to continue the journey that we started. 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." Belkin also issued a statement, saying that their marketing strategy "would be focussed more on innovation, but said they will help the team in their search for a new sponsor." The statement said, "Belkin will always have the highest of regards for the team and will actively support them throughout the remainder of the season in their search for a new sponsor" (CYCLING NEWS, 6/17).
