By Antonio J. Salmerón
Juan Carlos Castaño Moreta was elected as the new president of the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC). The father of Xacobeo-Galicia professional Carlos Castaño won with 78 votes. His adversary, José Luis López Cerrón only received 34 votes. Cerrón organises the Vuelta a Castilla y León and was a director at the Banesto team.
The 56-year-old Castaño has a general accounting diploma as well as a degree in economic analysis. He was an active athlete with Unión Ciclista San Sebastián de los Reyes and later worked for the Federación Madrileña of the Spanish capital. For the latter, he worked as the coach and also was the technical director of the women's and the track team since 1990. In 2005, he was elected president of the Madrid federation.
Castaño was strongly supported by the members responsible for the lower categories in the Spanish federation, both from the road and the track side. He also had support from José Griñán, the former director of RFEC, who renounced his own candidacy in favour of Castaño.
Pat McQuaid, the president of the world's governing body, the UCI, backed Castaño. McQuaid hopes for an improvement in the relationship between the UCI and RFEC. Cyclingnews has information that the two already talked together, since the election on Saturday.
Castaño is aware of the hard job ahead. "I will [try to restore] the dignity of the currently damaged image that cycling and cyclists have. I want to revitalise the base of cycling [lower categories - ed.] and I want to see a return of its presence and its preference in the plans of the federation."
Castaño was relieved to begin his new role on a positive note after hearing some news about a major Spanish team. "I am glad that Contentpolis-Murcia-AMPO is finally accepted as a Professional Continental team," he said.
