Echavarri questions T-Mobiles ethics
By Antonio J. Salmerón The Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears team manager José Miguel Echavarri has...
By Antonio J. Salmerón
The Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears team manager José Miguel Echavarri has explained in the pages of the sport daily AS his malaise with the possible drafting of his star rider, Alejandro Valverde, by T-Mobile. The interview was published at the same time that ABC published their details of a supposed relationship between Valverde and Eufemiano Fuentes.
Echavarri explained his opinion. "Cycling lives a compulsive moment, in which it seems that everything is possible. It is no longer strange to me that those who wish the rules are met now infringe them," noted the Spaniard on the practices of T-Mobile.
"We admit that the T-Mobile has great economic capacity, but it does not correspond with its results, and in this sense, T-Mobile needs a leader. But the ethical code is not only for Operación Puerto; the UCI has a regulation that does not allow us [ProTour teams] to try to reach a contractual agreement with those riders who have still contract in force," he continued, in clear reference to Valverde.
Echavarri confirmed that Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears Director Sportif Eusebio Unzúe had travelled to Murcia to try to negotiate with Valverde, but he also sent a strong alert. "Valverde says that he prefers to remain with us, but they offered him a great increase of pay, leaving him to want more. If he wants to go then we could not prevent this, but he would have to also assume all the responsibilities, as well as T-Mobile."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59
Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1