Thomas Dekker could possibly be signing for Italian WorldTour team Lampre-Merida off the back of his hour record attempt, in which he fell 270 meters short of the record, which was set by former teammate Rohan Dennis in February, according to De Telegraaf.

"We want to make the team international and have been looking for some time for a rider from the Netherlands," said Managing Director at Merida Benelux, Peter Koperdraad.

"Late last year the name Dekker was already [being discussed], but then his signing was stopped by the Italians because they were essentially three lesser years in Garmin. Maybe his attempt to attack the hour record or has made an impression. This week we go again to talk."

A promising young talent, Dekker won the Tour of Romandie and Tirreno Adriatico while riding for Rabobank. On the eve of the 2009 Tour de France, Dekker tested positive for EPO and was subsequently given a two-year suspension from the sport.

He was signed by the Chipotle-Garmin Development Team in 2011 and then joined the Garmin WorldTour team in 2012 for three seasons, but produced almost zero results. Dekker was one of several riders who found themselves without a contract when the Garmin and Cannondale teams merged at the end of last year. As a result, he announced he would focus on the hour record rather than finding a new team for 2015.