Andalucía-Caja Granada in financial trouble and faces relegation

Today the team management of Andalucia – Caja Granada visits the UCI licensing committee in Aigle, Switzerland. The team led by Antonio Cabello has financial problems after Caja Granada is said to retire as main sponsor.

The political structure of Spain is important in this respect. The country has autonomous communities like the Basque country, Catalonia, Galicia and Andalucia – 17 in total. These communities have regional cycling teams like Euskaltel, Caja Rural and Andalucía-Caja Granada. Kelme for example orginated from the regional Valencia team. Most of these teams are backed by the regional (savings) banks and the regional governments. And that’s a problem since Spain is suffering hard from the euro-crisis.It’s also why Euskaltel is now rumoured to quit after the 2012 season bercause the Basque governement has to cut the funding.

To put a long story short. If Andalucía-Caja Granada can’t present a good financial plan to the UCI, the team relegates to continental status. Continental status means probably no wildcards for big races like the Vuelta and fewer riders – maximum of 16 instead of 30 for ProContinental teams

The team hasn’t published anything about the current situation. It has told its riders and staff to stay calm and wait.

Bike Live, the company behind Geox-TMC – the other Spanish team in peril – will see the licensing commitee on Friday. Read more about that in the previous blog - http://tourdejose.wordpress.com/2011/11/23/gianetti-has-two-options/

Muchos gracías a @FranReyesF y son blog http://espiritugregario.blogspot.com/2011/11/andalucia-podria-bajar-la-categoria.html