According to Belgian media, Thomas De Gendt may be forced to leave Omega Pharma-Quick Step after one season in their outfit as Patrick Lefevere gradually reduces team roster to eventually meet new UCI regulations in 2017.

Lefevere plans to reduce Belgian team roster from 30 to 27 riders, while several cyclists, particularly Yves Lampaert, Fabio Sabatini (Cannondale), Łukasz Wiśniowski (Etixx), Maxime Bouet (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and David de la Cruz (NetApp-Endura) already have signed contracts to join Omega Pharma-Quick Step for 2015 season.

“In a view of the new UCI regulations starting to be implemented in 2017, I want to gradually reduce the group. By that year I need to reach 22 riders in A-team and further 8 in B-team. By 2016, it should be 25 riders,” Lefevere explained.

It means that after announced departure of Jan Bakelants, Wout Poels, Serge Pauwels, Gert Steegmans or Kevin De Weert, there might be not enough room for De Ghent to stay, as squad’s manager wasn’t pleased with his performances throughout last season and he plans to continue building a strong team around riders like Tom Boonen, Mark Cavendish, Rigoberto Uran, Michał Kwiatkowski and Niki Terpstra.

De Gendt was thrown a lifeline by Omega Pharma – Quick Step after his previous squad, Vacansoleil, had folded with the end of last season and he struggled to find a new team. Lefevere offered the 27-year old Belgian the one-year contract on a very reduced salary as he has called it a year of redemption, but apparently the Giro d’Italia podium finisher hasn’t managed to pay for his sins.

As Belgian team manager was reluctant to sit down and discuss opportunities with De Gendt, he acknowledges that extending his current contract becomes very unlikely.

“The longer it takes, the less probable it becomes,” De Ghent told Nieuwsblad.be.

The 27-year old Belgian didn’t win any race in 2014 as he mainly rode in the support of Omega Pharma – Quick Step leaders in stage events, but claims that the passing season was better than a disastrous previous one.

“In my opinion I had a better season than last year’s.”

“Unfortunately, it might not be enough to stay. With very few exceptions, I’ve been riding in a support of team-mates. In such a big team these few races in which you can ride for yourself are precious.”

“I got such opportunity two days in a row in the Giro, and I finished fourth and sixth. In a time trial I also finished eighth.”

It is yet to be determined for which team De Ghent will ride in 2015.