Charlie Quarterman is waiting for a last-minute deal to be finalized to keep his WorldTour career alive, but after two years with Trek-Segafredo, the 23-year-old remains unhappy with his departure from the American team.

Quarterman signed with Trek-Segafredo for 2020 and was seen as one of the most promising young riders on the World Tour circuit after an impressive 2019 that included a U23 British time trial title and two top-five finishes in the Baby Giro.

However, the next two years did not live up to Quarterman and team expectations. The global COVID-19 epidemic shortened the 2020 season to just a few weeks, and in the first race of 2021, Quarterman suffered a concussion in a violent crash at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. By the time he was back to his best, the season was almost over, at which point Trek-Segafredo decided to move on.

"I think it was politics and secrecy that cost me my place at Trek.

"There's always a lot going on in the background, and as a rider I think you only hear about 20% of the story. Maybe it's a lack of communication that I think is secrecy or politics, but in any case, there's more to it than that."

Quarterman readily admits that he has learned a lot in the past two years and would have been happy to re-sign with Trek Segafredo under new terms, but the main problem was the lack of clarity about his departure from the team.

The American team has been trying to revamp its squad in recent years by acquiring a number of young players, but Quarterman expected a higher level of loyalty.

"I'm still not sure why my contract with Trek wasn't renewed. It is said that there just wasn't enough development and that there were too many young riders who wanted to sign and the market principle didn't work"

.

"They have been loyal for two years, although a lot has happened over the past two years. I am amazed at their decision. I think there is more to this story. I am sorry to leave the setup because I would have been very happy to re-sign and build up. It was a good environment for that."

Although he struggled and suffered injuries in his debut season in 2020, Quarterman hoped to extend his contract with Trek Segafredo and noted his value as a domestique within the team.

"Everyone plays games, and the manager always says we'll hear back next week or we need to check on a few things first. People are hesitant to tell you what's really going on because they think there might be a better option. That's why it takes so long to find a team," he explained.

"I wasn't expecting an upgrade, but last year COVID-19 got me, everything was compressed, and this year it started with a concussion and I missed two months from my first race. I thought I'd get another year to show what I can do, but that's the way pro cycling and the sport is, there's nothing you can do about it.

"Unless you do something like Tim DeClercq, which is on TV, and it's appreciated, the only time it gets noticed is among your teammates. Relying on the appreciation of a professional sports team isn't always the most reliable thing you can do."

When asked if he would have done anything differently during his time with Trek-Segafredo, the British rider paused before giving a detailed and honest answer.

He noted that he could have been more selfish at times, and could have ridden for himself instead of supporting the team's ambitions.

"It's hard to answer because I don't know myself where I went wrong.

"I think right after I resumed racing, I would have gone into panic mode. But at the same time, I had just come back from a concussion, and you can't rush into these things.

"I don't think there was much I could have done other than take more chances and have more confidence in myself early on. It wasn't until around September that I started jumping at the chance if the leadership wasn't in good shape. Before that, I was waiting more and helping out whoever told me to. I guess that's part of being a teammate."

The past few months have certainly taken a toll on Ryder's psyche, but he is determined to continue his racing career. Contract options with other teams have been floated, but sponsors' signatures are required for a deal to be signed.

At this point in the season, the quarterman is itching to sort out his future.

"It's actually been a very long couple of months," he says. 'Trying to stay in the best shape possible, I've been looking at my phone every single day, waiting for the message that I can relax and focus on riding. It was pretty exhausting.

"I have something to prove. The last couple of months have made me realize that no matter what team I'm on next year, I still have a lot to prove. I've seen a lot of growth over the past two years in what I've done for others and in how well I've raced. I just need to put myself in a situation where I can show it. I am determined to fight back."