DFL: MUSEEUW AND LOTZ DEALS NOT DONE

Contrary to reports elsewhere, Team DFL has not signed a deal to ride Museeuw bikes in 2008.

In fact, the team?s future is far from certain and the owner, Nick Collins, needs more funding to guarantee the squad takes its place in the Pro Continental ranks.

Other reports that disgraced former Quick Step rider Marc Lotz was close to signing a contract with the team are also premature. No deal has been done.

Collins said: ?Museeuw bikes are one of the options for the team next year if we go forward, and Marc Lotz has been spoken to, as have a lot of other riders, but no decision has been made at all. As far as I am concerned this is all speculation as nothing has been committed to.?

Lotz, a 34-year-old Belgian rider who rode for Rabobank from 1998 to 2004, was sacked by Quick Step in 2005 after police searching his house discovered EPO in his fridge. He admitted using the drug to prepare for the Tour de France. After a two-year ban he returned to the amateur ranks in June.

But reports he has already signed for DFL are wide of the mark at this stage.

Read the full details of Nick Collins? difficult year ? and his battle to secure the funding to enable the team to race on ? in Thursday?s Cycling Weekly.