It is far from certain that Direct Energie will be granted a license for next season. The team which was known as Europcar in 2015, is facing financial problems and could only pay the salaries of the staff  thanks to a bank guarantee, according to a report by the Ouest France newspaper.

A conflict with Colnago is the reason for the problems. The bike supplier was not frustrated by critical remarks from Pierre Rolland on the eve of the Tour de France and therefore refuses to pay a sum of 600,000 euros. On December 14, a French court will make a first ruling in the case.

According to Ouest France, manager Jean-René Bernaudeau already traveled to the UCI headquarters to explain himself. His team has requested a Pro Continental license, but like Bardiani-CSF, Southeast and CCC Sprandi-Polkowice, they are still in the waiting room.

Next season Direct Energie will have BH Bikes as bike supplier. Rolland who created the problem by asking the team to find new bikes, has moved to Cannondale-Garmin.