Scott Sunderland has resigned as sporting manager of the newly formed Cervelo Test Team having rapidly put together the squad that includes 2008 Tour winner Carlos Sastre.

Speaking at the presentation of next year?s Tour de France route Sunderland said; ?We made a mutual agreement that I?m not going to be there.?

Although Sunderland believes the future of the team – that includes four British riders – is secure, he did say they still had a lot to do if they were going to be ready to start competing early in the new year. ?I stepped out of it a week ago,? Sunderland said. ?They still need to get a few things done which I hope they?re doing.?

?The talent of the riders and the capabilities of the staff is great. I did have probably 80 percent of the control over the team and who those people were going to be. That?s great and they?re going to win bike races.?

Without a ProTour licence the Cervelo Test Team will have to rely on early season results to get in the 2009 Tour, even with the current champion Carlos Sastre riding for them.

Although much of the responsibility for results will fall on the shoulders of the experienced riders like Sastre, Thor Hushovd and Andreas Klier, the Brits who have signed for the team will also have their part to play.

Roger Hammond, Jeremy Hunt, Dan Lloyd and Dan Fleeman will all be riding in Cervelo colours next year.

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