Doping scandals seem to have scared sponsors away from cycling, one of the most prolific teams, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team having to end its race after this season due to the lack of a strong sponsor.

Lance Armstrong’s former team announced it is shutting down all operations after the 2007 cycling season because it failed to attract a powerful sponsor.

Discovery Channel announced in February that its sponsorship ends in 2007 and will not be renewed, after important moves made in the management's office are believed to have determined the network to mop up its collaboration with the cyclists.

Tailwind Sports, the parent company of this team said it wasn’t able to find a suitable contract and will have to end the activities of “the most successful sports franchise in the history of sport.”

“This was a difficult decision, not made any easier by our recent Tour de France success. We were in talks with a number of companies about the opportunity and were confident a new sponsor was imminent. We have chosen, however, to end those discussions,” general manager Bill Stapleton said.

Eight of the last nine editions of the Tour de France were won by Discovery’s riders, Armstrong managing to climb the podium’s first step seven consecutive times before Spaniard Alberto Contador won this year’s title.

His victory was shaded by a doping scandal that claimed numerous victims, riders being suspended or even fired for use of illegal substances. Contador himself came into an unwanted spotlight after several repots accused him of benefiting from the services of Eufemiano Fuentes, a sports doctor implicated in the famous doping case Operation Puerto.

He denied the allegations and stressed that his victory was clean and well deserved.

“I’ve never been involved in any act of doping. I’m available to all competent authorities in the matter of doping, and will answer any questions,” the Spaniard said.

Along with Contador, other riders will have to find a new work place, teams already setting their eyes on riders like American Levi Leipheimer who clinched the 2007 Tour of California and finished third in the Tour.