For Jim Ochowicz and Continuum Sports, the time to fight to keep their 2021 World Tour ambitions alive is dwindling fast, but this veteran team boss is still hoping he can save his team at the last minute.

"I can't put a percentage on it, but I've pulled a rabbit out of the hat once or twice, so maybe I can reach for it again," CCC team manager Ochowicz said on the eve of stage 12 of the Tour de France, Ochowicz told Cycling News.

Ochowicz has a successful history when it comes to fundraising, having pioneered the 7-Eleven and then Motorola teams in the 1980s and 1990s. Motorola disbanded at the end of 1996, but Ochowicz later returned with BMC Racing in the mid-2000s. Their sponsorship ended in 2018, but Ochowicz was able to find a last-minute deal with CCC, a step up from the Pro Continental level.

Although a long-term contract was in place with the CCC team, the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the Polish company's finances, forcing the sponsor to announce that it would end the sport after this season, despite a reduction in salary.

Since March, Ochowicz has been searching for a replacement, but finding more than 10 million euros in the middle of a pandemic is difficult. However, it is extremely difficult to come up with a transfer fee of more than 10 million euros in the middle of a pandemic.

"Since March, there have been ebbs and flows, but that interest has run out and at this point everything has gone from initial interest to a "no" answer. We have developed a number of scenarios with different people over the last few months and that is still going on. People are open to discussions, but as of today, we have no commitments from anyone for 2021," Ochowicz told Cycling News.

"We intend to continue, and those talks are ongoing.

One of the first parties Ochovich had discussions with was Manuela Fundacion. The Spanish organization had been negotiating with Mitchelton Scott and a letter of intent had been signed, but a public altercation between the Australian team and the leader of the Manuela Fundacion's cycling department resulted in the contract being quickly terminated. Ochowicz did not comment on why negotiations with Manuela Fundacion had failed.

"After the initial interest with Mitchelton Scott was settled, I don't know why, they contacted me and we had some discussions, which were interrupted. There were a lot of problems that didn't materialize."

Ochowicz also did not give a deadline for when he would stop looking for a new sponsor, but at least for 2021, the team must meet a set deadline regarding paperwork with the UCI The choice may soon be out of his hands, as the team must meet a set deadline regarding paperwork with the UCI, at least for 2021.

"I don't think it needs to be said. At some point, we will need to apply regarding UCI regulations and the World Tour," he said.

"We sent the initial requirements that were due a few weeks ago, and the next UCI requirements are due by October 1. But the next UCI requirement has to be submitted by October 1. That is not the final deadline, but there are certain standards for what must be accomplished by some of the deadlines. We are going to keep trying until they tell us to forget it." [If they don't find a sponsor for 2021, they could take a year off before returning in 2022.

"If I don't find a sponsor for 2021, I have indicated that I may take a year off before coming back in 2022.

"I did it once before with Motorola. I did it once before with Motorola. We need to clean up before we close the doors and that will take at least 6 to 9 months in 2021. During that time, things may happen that could not be done this year. Some of the groups we spoke to were concerned about the pandemic and how it might affect their businesses in the short term. We are not going to be gone so fast that you will never see us again on January 1," he added.

If Ochowicz pulled a rabbit out of the hat and found a patron, building a roster should be relatively easy. He has signed Phil Andersen in the dead of winter, and with so many uncertainties on the market, there are plenty of riders who could remain free until 2021. Even if Greg Van Avermaet and Matteo Tolentin leave for new destinations, Ochowicz should have the talent as long as he has the money to build a strong team.

"We certainly have enough riders to put together a World Tour team, and we have the option of transferring.