Team Sky GM David Brailsford said that signing Colombia's Ecopetrol as the new sponsor is "very unlikely" despite recent talks, according to Gregor Brown of CYCLING WEEKLY. Brailsford was in Colombia this last week for the Tour Colombia, won by Miguel Angel López (Astana). Team Sky’s new recruit, Colombian Iván Sosa, placed second overall. Brailsford said, "I am open to everything." He added that a deal to back the team, which will lose Sky media after 10 years and six Tour de France wins, is "very unlikely." Brailsford met with Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez, the sports secretary and businesses including oil company Ecopetrol. Brailsford: "Colombian cycling has enormous potential, everyone knows it." He is "keeping his cards close to his chest" for a backer to continue the team, which currently runs on the sport's biggest budget of around £34M ($44M). However, he said early on that he would "give himself a deadline" of July, by the Tour de France, to secure a sponsor. If none is found, "he would tell his riders to look for other teams" (CYCLING NEWS, 2/18).
