Australian Criterium champion Steele von Hoff has signed for British Contnental team NFTO Pro Cycling after not being part of the Garmin-Cannondale merger. He spoke to CyclingTips about his frustration about how his current employers stung him along before revealing late in the season that they weren’t going to keep him.

“November came around and team camp was just on the horizon. I was still wondering if I was going or not,” he told CyclingTips.

“Andrew McQuaid [Von Hoff’s agent – ed.] sent a final email to (team manager Jonathan) Vaughters saying ‘Steele – yes or no.’ he explained. “JV had been playing me for the last few months, saying ‘yeah, we want him…it depends on Viviani and where he goes.’

“But then in August we knew he was going to Sky. JV still said that he needed another sponsor to have some more money. At the end of the day I just don’t think he wanted me but kept me within his reach, just in case.

“I put all my eggs in that basket this year by working for the team and not my own results.”

Von Hoff does feel hurt by not being kept on, but he knows that so many riders had to leave the team as the merger meant that more riders than usual were coming on board.

“A lot of riders who were cut from Garmin wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for the merger,” he said. “I think eight riders needed to be cut because of this.”

“Out of a team of 28, eight is substantial. It’s just an unfortunate year and you need to do what you can to get back up for the next year.”

But all is not lost for Von Hoff, who will hope to use NFTO as a launch pad for a WorldTour return, just as Adam Blythe did this year before heading back to the top with Orica Greenedge.

“I was able to secure a contract with NFTO and it’ll give me an opportunity to get back up into the World Tour,” said the 26-year-old. “They’re supportive of me still living in Girona and supportive of helping me get back up to the World Tour again, just like they did with Adam Blythe.”

“I just want to replicate the good year I had in 2011 and try and win again. I need to get back into that routine of winning to get myself back into the top ranks. NFTO are fully supportive and are basing a team around me to try to get me some victories so I can step back up.”