Following the demise of the Euskaltel-Euskadi team, star rider Samuel Sanchez still hasn't been offered a contract for next season. Still feeling mentally and physically strong, the Spaniard hopes to continue his career in 2014.

When the demise of the Euskaltel team was announced, few people expected the team's biggest star to have difficulty finding a new team for 2014 but in the middle of October, Samuel Sanchez finds himself in the uncomfortable situation of not having received a contract offer for 2014. Having earlier stated his intention of continuing his career, no team has still shown sufficient interest in the former Olympic champion.

Sanchez has long been linked with a move to Saxo-Tinkoff where he would team up with close friend Alberto Contador but at a recent press conference, team owner Bjarne Riis made it clear that he was unlikely to recruit the Euskaltel leader. According to the Zona Matxin blog, Sanchez is the rider with most value points among those who still haven't signed a contract for 2014 but as the UCI deadline was October 20, no team will be able to benefit from his points when it comes to registration for the coming season.

Sanchez frankly admits that he still doesn't know anything about his future employer and fear that his career has come to an end.

"At the moment, no team has offered me a contract that allows me to continue my career," he told Deia in an interview. I" keep hoping. I had a two-year contract and I signed it because I still have the mental and physical strength to ride with the best. I have been looking around but I am out of work in 2014."

Sanchez has been with the Euskaltel team during his entire professional career and tried to stay loyal as long as possible. Hence, it has been heartbreaking to see the team fold.

"It has been sad to see a family get broken and there's nothing to do to save it," he said. "For me who raced with the team for 14 years, it is really painful."

Only 6 Euskaltel riders have found a team for the coming season: Gorka and Ion Izagirre (Movistar), Mikel Nieve (Sky), Mikel Landa (Astana), Romain Sicard (Europcar) and Ricardo Mestre (Efapel).