NTT Pro Cycling director Bjarne Riis has spoken out about the team's future in the Tour de France, saying he is confident of securing the team's future next season.

The team's future was reportedly threatened last week when its title sponsorship deal with the IT firm expires at the end of 2020. According to a report from Wielerfritz, the contract will not be extended and the search for a replacement has not been fruitful.

Earlier this year, the team was reportedly trying to extend its contract with NTT, and Danish window brand Velux was rumored to be a possible sponsor after Riis took over as team manager after the start of the season.

Speaking to "Het Nieuwsblad" (opens in new tab), Riis said it was a situation he had experienced when he was manager of CSC/Saxo Bank.

"I am confident," he said. I have been through this before."

"I expect to have news soon. Until then, the media can only continue to speculate."

The team had hoped to use the Tour as a means of attracting potential sponsors, but Giacomo Nizzolo, the team's lead sprinter, abandoned on stage 8 due to leg pain. Edvald Boasson Hagen finished second in Rabaul on stage 7, the team's best result.

"It's not rocket science," Riis said of their plan.

"Still no luck" on Nizzolo and Domenico Pozzovivo's abstention, he added.

Only a handful of NTT riders have been contacted beyond this season: Domenico Pozzovivo, Victor Campenetz, and Neo Pro riders Matteo Sobrero, Dylan Sunderland, and Samuele Battistella.

The team's out-of-contract riders have reportedly begun looking elsewhere, with only four months until the start of the 2021 season.