Garrido has signed by Benfica

By Antonio J. Salmerón

The ex-Quickstep rider José Antonio Garrido has reached a contractual agreement to return to competition with the Portuguese professional-continental squad, LA-MSS (Maia), directed by Manuel Zeferino. The 32 year-old rider had finished his contract with Quickstep last December, and since then, he has not found any opportunity to continue his long cycling career.

The Basque rider made debut in 1999 with Benfica cycling team. The next season, Garrido left Benfica for riding for the now defunct Costa de Almeria team (directed by Miguel Moreno) until 2004, when he was signed by Quickstep. This squad is led by the Spaniard Xavier Florencio and the local Joao Cabreira, who is aiming for the Volta do Portugal, in August.