Team officials say they are confident of landing new sponsors to allow the Spanish squad Saunier Duval to continue next season despite the departure of its title sponsor.

Team manager Joxean Fernández Matxin told the Spanish daily MARCA that the appropriate paperwork has been filed with the UCI to assure the team a presence in the peloton next year.

Matxin said negotiations are continuing with potential new title sponsors, but he’s confident enough that he’s moving forward with plans to race in 2009.

The Spanish team has recently signed contracts with Litu Gómez, Iker Camaño and José Alberto Benítez to round out the team, which still has Juan Cobo and José Marchante.

Matxin and team manager Mauro Gianetti have been searching for a new title sponsor following the departure of Saunier Duval, which decided to leave cycling following the doping scandals involving star riders Riccardo Riccò and Leonardo Piepoli.

The Italian riders both won mountain stages at the 2008 Tour de France, but later tested positive for the new EPO substitute, CERA.

Riccò admitted using the banned blood booster and has since appealed that his two-year ban be reduced. Piepoli, meanwhile, recently asked for follow-up analysis.