Gerry Ryan is likely to end his financial support of Australia's only top-level cycling team at the end of next season.
One of Australian sport's most significant off-field figures has indicated he will end ownership of GreenEDGE, which runs the Jayco AlUla and the women's Liv AlUla Jayco teams.
Apart from his long-standing financial support of Australian cycling, the Melbourne-based businessman also is well-known in horse racing, rugby league and basketball, and was a vice-president at AFL club St Kilda.
In a wide-ranging interview on the Stanley St Social cycling podcast, Ryan was asked when he would stop his financial backing for GreenEDGE.
"(I'm) probably looking at the end of the year, next year," he said.
"My kids are a bit concerned about their inheritance."
GreenEDGE are coming off a turbulent period, capped when the team's future was in doubt late last year because of problems with their registration.
Not for the first time, Ryan stepped in personally with his considerable financial resources to help solve the problem.
"We lost our way somewhat, we're rebuilding now ... never give up," Ryan said of the challenges that the team have faced.
"Everyone had an honest look at themselves."
GreenEDGE are negotiating with the Saudi Arabian government, its other major backer through the AlUla oasis city.
"We're over there talking now. We need to keep increasing our income to try to be competitive," Ryan said.
"If they want us to win a (Grand) Tour, we certainly need to have a bigger budget."
Ryan's top goal when GreenEDGE started in 2012, one year after Cadel Evans' historic Tour de France win, was for one of their riders to win the race.
While they have won plenty of stages in the three Grand Tours - the Tour, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana - their only overall win so far was Simon Yates in the 2018 Vuelta.
But he is realistic, saying their team budget is half that of the UAE line-up headed by Tadej Pogacar, cycling's biggest star.
Asked if Jayco AlUla could win the Tour de France, Ryan replied: "I don't think we can ... because we don't have the budget. But miracles happen."
Ryan has been inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and AusCycling's Hall of Fame for his contributions.
He was sharply critical of AusCycling for its lack of support for local racing and rider development.
"They are doing nothing to develop the pathways. No sponsorship has been raised to help those pathways for the last 10 years," he said.
AAP contacted Ryan for comment.
