Next year there will be no to Björn Leukemans in the peloton. The 38-year old rider will hang up his bike after Wanty-Groupe Gobert did not renew his contract.

Björn Leukemans spenth the last two years in the Wanty-Groupe Gobert jersey but there was no new contract for him.

"Because his salary weighs too heavny on the budget of the team", Wanty-Groupe Gobert said at the time. Leukemans had set December 31 as a deadline but was not going to beg for a contract.

The 38-year-old had a great autumn as he won the Ronde van Limburg, theGP Jef Scherens and the GP Stad Geraardsbergen.

Leukemans had decided to do another year but his failed search for a new employer has dashed those hopes. Leukemans has especially excelled in the classics and has been fourth in both Paris-Roubaix (2007) and the Tour of Flanders (2010). He played  key role in setting Philippe Gilbert up for the World Championships win on the Cauberg in 2012.

"I deserved a better farewell," said Leukemans. "I'd really like to have raced in 2016, but others have decided otherwise."