RadioShack to End UCI Team Sponsorship

In a big blow to the UCI Pro team, RadioShack will no longer title sponsor the Leopard team according to reports.

According to the French sports newspaper L’Equipe, the company has cited financial losses and a desire to target Asian markets as the reasons for the decision.

Doping scandals surrounding the team are also thought to have contributed, with the exposure of Lance Armstrong as a cheat last autumn being swiftly followed by Frank Schleck’s ban for a failed test at last year’s Tour de France.

It will be the second season in succession that the team has suffered a sponsorship setback, after Nissan asked for their name to be withdrawn from the title at the end of the 2012 campaign..

RadioShack initially became a UCI WorldTour sponsor in 2010 when they backed a new team being built around Armstrong and manager Johan Bruyneel.