By Antonio J. Salmerón
The debut of José Miguel Elías with his new professional continental team Contentpolis-Murcia was delayed by injuries sustained while training last November, but the 31 year-old climber is healed again and excited to return to competition at the Gran Premio Miguel Induráin.
"I have not been back training for long, and in this sense, I know that it will be very hard for me to adapt to the rhythm of competition, mainly because the season is already started," said Elías, who broke his radius and ulna last fall, to Cyclingnews, "but anyway, this has been something I have been waiting for."
His Contentpolis-Murcia squad will be led by Manuel Vázquez, who finished in the second in the general classification of the Volta a la Comunidad Valenciana, and also brought his team its first victory during that race's queen stage. Vázquez will be supported by Adrian Palomares, Eloy Teruel, Alberto Rodríguez, Oleg Chuzda, Rafael Serrano, Javier Etxarri, José Herrada and, of course, Elías – all under the guidance of director Ginés García.
Looking ahead, Elías, formerly of Relax-GAM, did not know his upcoming racing calendar. "After racing in the GP Miguel Induráin, I have to talk with Ginés García on the subject," he said. "I would like to reach a peak in May and am thinking of the Vuelta Ciclista Asturias, in which I finished fourth in the general classification in 2004."
Elías said his team's main goal is to earn a "wild card" for the Vuelta a España. "My team-mates have had a great beginning of their season. "They had a great performance in their first race, the Volta a la Comunidad Valenciana, as all we know perfectly. But they also showed a very combative spirit in the Vuelta a Murcia, as well as in [Vuelta a] Castilla y León. I think that we have to get into the Vuelta [a España]; that is very important for all of us".
