The rumoured pro continental team to be set up by current Vacansoleil sports director Hilaire Van Der Schueren has secured sponsorship funds from construction company Wanty and the required papers have been sent to the UCI to secure registration for the 2014 season. Plenty of current Vacansoleil riders are expected to join the new squad with Björn Leukemans having already reached a deal with Van Der Schueren.

A few weeks ago it emerged that Vacansoleil sports director Hilaier Van Der Schueren was searching sponsorship money to set up a pro continental team that would be led by Björn Leukemans. Today the Dutchman has confirmed to Dutch TV channel NOS that he has reached an agreement with construction company Wanty to be principle sponsor for the squad.

With the required money now secured, the team has started to process of being registered with the UCI.

“A driver submitted the papers to the UCI,” van der Schueren confirmed, thus confirming that he has made the registration before the October 1 deadline.

Of the 29 Vacansoleil riders, 9 have signed contracts elsewhere but 20 are still left without a team for next season. Many of those are expected to join the new team even though Van Der Schueren stated that "I can’t take everyone.”

A originally rumoured classics star Björn Leukemans has signed a contract with the new team. The Belgian has previously stated that he had no problem stepping down to ProContinental level with the grand tours playing no role for the one-day specialist. Dutch champion Johnn Hoogerland and Juan Antonion Flecha may also sign with the team.

“I have an agreement with Björn Leukemans,” he said. “He will sign today or tomorrow. I don’t know about Johnny, he was talking to Alonso, Astana and Lampre. But Johnny is dear to my heart, I will talk to him tomorrow. Flecha called me last week; he said he wants to ride for a year and he would like to do it with me.”

Classics riders Frederick Veuchelen and Mirko Selvaggi have both signed a contract with the new squad while van der Schueren is in negotiation with Tomasz Marczynski and Romain Feillu.

“Talents like Wesley Kreder, Bert-Jan Lindeman, Maurits Lammertink and Wouter Mol,” he said. “I have no contract [with them], but they are close to my heart.”
 

Van der Schueren also confirms that sprinter Kenny Van Hummel had a contract with the team that was to be set up by Fernando Alonso but which never came to fruition. Whether he will join Wanty hasn't been revealed.

On the other hand, Thomas De Gendt who may be signing a contract with Omega Pharma-Quick Step following the broken verbal agreement between that team and Janier Acevedo, won't join the team.

“[Thomas] De Gendt? He would be too expensive,” van der Schueren said. “Marco [Marcato] is going; he got a better offer from Cannondale, and has signed with them."

This year Wanty has been sponsor for the Accent.jobs-Wanty team and will take a couple of riders from that team, including young Luxembourgish talent Jempy Drucker.