The Tour de Langkawi may welcome international riders to the Malaysian race after its cancellation in 2021, but some groups may feel that the 2.Pro Tour may be their final farewell.

I sincerely hope it is not a goodbye to this season, to the team, and to my cycling career. Drone Hopper Androni Giocattoli is facing an uncertain future as it searches for a new sponsor that will keep the team alive through 2023, and Langkawi could be the team's last race. Therefore, Langkawi could be the last race for the team.

"The team's situation right now is not very good. Maybe the team will be closed, maybe not," Eduardo Gross told Cycling News on the sidelines of the Malaysia race. 'At the moment I don't have a team for next season,' he said. My teammates are also looking for a team."

This is not an uncommon story in the peloton, and stage 6 winner Erlend Brykla (Uno X Pro Cycling) is just one who has learned that he has no contract for 2023. Others, like stage 2 winner Craig Wiggins (ARA Pro Cycling Sunshine Coast), are looking to use this race as a chance to take their first step toward the pros.

But riders like Bricla and Wiggins have a plan for next year and the advantage of having teammates who have supported them in the sprints. On the other hand, in Dronehopper, they are told they are free to take their chances, as all players face the same tough situation.

"It's hard to achieve good results alone, but we try. We are focused on winning a stage and finding a good team for next season."

Gross, who won stage 3 of the Tour of Romania last month, has three top-10 finishes at the Tour de Langkawi and a third-place podium finish on stage 4. Teammate Eduardo Sepulveda, who moved to Drone Hopper Androni in 2021 after three seasons with Movistar, is also looking for results in Langkawi as he tries to find a place for next season. However, it is not an easy task, as many riders are looking for it and at this stage there are very few places available.

Sepulveda said, "You can always start a conversation, but every team says they are full. 'I know it's not easy, but I'm positive in my mind that it's not easy.'

Sepulveda finished sixth in the steep Genting Highlands stage and is 22 seconds off the podium overall.

"I try not to think too much about my contract and focus on the race. This is the last race of the season, so I have to enjoy it."

The best remaining stage for Sepulveda was stage 7, with the Gunung Raya climb as the finish line, which would have given him not only a shot at the top of the stage but also the final overall podium, but unfortunately the weather prevented that. Flooding in Langkawi on Sunday and a landslide on the climb led to a late change of plans.

The stage suited teammate Gross, who was likely to be brought into a group sprint.

"I don't know if it's because I'm getting older or because the team is already full," he said. But I'm still fighting for next year."