Following the demise of the Sojasun team, Brice Feillu still hasn't found a new team for the 2014 season. The former Tour de France stage winner now fears that he may have to end his career at just 28 years of age.
Brice Feillu seemed to be at the start of a long and glorious career when he won the big mountain stage to Andorra in the 2009 Tour de France at just 23 years of age. Since then, he has been unable to reach similar heights and now his future career is in danger.
His Sojasun team is folding at the end of the season and while he was at one point reported to join his brother Romain at Bretagne, the climber still hasn't found a new home for the 2014 season. With time running out, he now fears that he may have to hang up his bike much earlier than he had planned.
"At the moment, I don't know if I'll still be professional next year," he told Nice Matin. "I remain optimistic but I have not signed anything. Of course I want to continue. I am far from finished and it would bother me to stop here. I know that times are tough and that there won't be room for everyone but I have done some great things on my bike and want to do so again in the future."
Following his successful 2009 season, Feillu signed a contract with Vacansoleil but had little success while riding with his brother on the Dutch team. He joined Leopard-Trek for the 2011 season before returning to France with Sojasun in 2012. Despite often racing as a captain, he hasn't won a single race since that glorious day in Andorra but still hopes that his past achievements will earn him a new contract.
He tries to keep in shape despite the uncertainty over his future.
"Since Paris-Bourges [his last race], I've only been riding once but I do a lot of jogging," he said. "I need to stay active."
His brother Romain was left in a similar situation following the demise of Vacansoleil but has signed a contract with Bretagne for 2014.
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