Rock Racing has fired domestic all-rounder Michael Creed, citing poor performance so far this season, and further reducing its roster following Friday's announcement of Tyler Hamilton's retirement.

VeloNews has been unable to confirm that two other Rock riders were dismissed this week, as well.

Rock Racing spokesmen did not immediately return phone calls and emails seeking confirmation on Saturday.

Creed said he was not overly surprised to be let go. He has raced just once this season, at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, where he finished 67th on the GC. He said he was disappointed to learn of his firing first from a teammate. He said he later received an email from the team confirming that he had been fired.

"I was always the guy defending the team, to my friends and other racers, so it's hard when you've been the one sticking up for the team, to be the one that gets flicked," he told VeloNews on Saturday.

“I don't want to put myself out as some kind of doe-eyed innocent ... I can't pretend I didn't see how they treated other riders they let go last year,” he said. “I'm trying not to feel too sorry for myself, because you are only as good as the people you go into business with.”

Creed said he was not certain what he would do next. He has an offer to race the Joe Martin Stage Race with another team, but is also considering options outside of professional bike racing.

“I'm going to hang out at home, and see if I can get psyched to race again. Right now I have no interest in going out training in the cold,” he said from his home in Colorado Springs.

Michael Creed, Chris Baldwin and Cesar Grajales were recently let go from the Rock Racing team due to financial cut backs. According to team owner Michael Ball, "those three riders had the highest paid salaries on the amateur team and I could not afford to keep them. It's not personal."