GEROLSTEIN, Germany (AFP) - German cycling team Gerolsteiner may have found a new sponsor to replace the mineral water company who will withdraw their support at the end of the year.

After the negative publicity surrounding the 2007 Tour de France, the cycling team was informed by the mineral-water bottling company Gerolsteiner last September - after ten-years of sponsorship - the arrangement will cease at the end of 2008.

But the Pro Tour team has now had interest from an anonymous company interested in sponsorship for the start of the 2009 season, team manager Hans Michael Holczer told German sports agency SID on Thursday.

So far the discussions are at an early stage, but Holczer is confident an agreement can be reached.