One big name was missing from the list of teams applying for UCI Pro Continental licences last week: Colombia. Despite taking part in a Grand Tour in each of the last three seasons, the team doesn’t have enough funding from the Colombian Ministry of Sport to continue in 2016.

“I think it’s very difficult that the team will continue, I’ll make a final decision at the start of the week,” team manager Claudio Corti told Cyclingnews.

“I’m waiting for a final decision from the Minister for Sport but the Colombian government does not have the same finances available to invest in the sport and especially in the team for 2016. They’re also preparing for the Rio Olympics and building new stadiums, so there’s less for the team. However I can’t continue to run the team with any less than we do now.”

“We’ve had a good relationship over the years and if a Colombian sponsor came along it would be great but I’m not optimistic. I’ve registered the team for 2016 with the UCI but its time to arrange the bank guarantee and confirm the funding otherwise I’ll have to make a final decision. I don’t want to the doubts to drag on.”

The team has had an awful year, without winning single race. but the team has helped provide a stepping stone to the WorldTour for many Colombians, with riders like Esteban Chaves, Fabio Duarte, Darwin Atapuma and Jarlinson Pantano all riding for the team before going on to the sport’s top level.

For Corti, if the team cannot continue, a sabbatical looks a likely next step. But he says at some point Colombia will return to cycling, even if the team’s departure for now is hugely disappointing.

“It’s not a problem for me, I’ve been in the pro peloton for 37 years as a manager and directeur sportif. Before that I raced for 12 years. I’ve had to start all over again in the past and will do it in the future.”

“It’ll be a pity if the team ends because it represents Colombia. So many people think Colombia is just drugs and war but that’s not true. We showed that Colombia can be present at the highest level of sport. It was a way to promote the country, develop young riders, show that Colombia is a modern country and reach out to the many Colombian people who live all over the world.”