Trying to remain graceful in huge disappointment after being forced to hang up his wheels, Nick Nuyens has no kind words about his former Garmin-Sharp team and their reaction when his health problems were discovered.

It's not the first time when riders criticize Garmin-Sharp for their heartless way of handling similar situations or refusing to extend contracts despite at a very short notice despite having declared otherwise.

„I don't like to throw mud at anyone, but what I experienced during my last two seasons was enough,” Nuyens told De Standaard.

„When my heart problems were confirmed last year, I found out that had already noticed some irregularities in my heartbeat in the US, but blamed the equipment for it. In a period when I was undergoing my heart surgery, no one from the team was interested in learning about my condition. The first phone call I received was to ask me if I could arrange myself tickets to Tomorrowland. Garmin has slapped me in my face.”

The 34-year old former Ronde van Vlaanderen winner revealed that he was close to signing a contract with Team Sky for 2015, but eventually couldn't sign a contract due to Wiggins' uncertain future in the British squad.

„I didn't want to say goodbye this way,” Nuyens admitted. „In Plouay, Bradley Wiggins approached me and asked if I wanted to play a role of road captain for Team Sky in Flemish classics. The whole team was excited about that idea and even asked for my biological passport. In terms of salary I didn't mention any figures, so much I wanted it to happen.”

„It didn't work out because of a lack of clarity in regards to Wiggins' future, as well as it didn't with Neri Sottoli – the last team which was interested. Eventually I was left with nothing and had to say goodbye in a disappointing way,” the 34-year old Belgian concluded.