Grupo Nicolas Mateos-Murcia happy with selection

By Antonio J. Salmerón

The announcement of the inclusion of the Grupo Nicolás Mateos-Murcia among the Pro-continental squads by the UCI was celebrated yesterday. "We are very happy after receiving this awaited decision," team manager, Ginés García, told Cyclingnews. The new Spanish squad will count on 16 riders for the next season, among them ex Relax climbers José Miguel Elías and Julián Sánchez Pimienta, as well as ex Fuerteventura-Canarias rider Adrian Palomares. Joining them will be rising star José Herrada, who won a stage at this years Tour de l'Avenir and Javier Etxarri, who has been racing for the squad since it was a continental squad.

"We don't have a clear leader, all of them are very combative riders. We are thinking of the future, because our contractual agreement with the Grupo Nicolas Mateos is for four years. We will have to fight in all our races if we are to achieve a start at the Vuelta a España," Garcia said.

The first part of the next season will be very important for them. "The youngest riders will have their opportunity from the beginning, and looking at the Vuelta a Murcia (in March) will be the turn of the veterans. We have to do as well as possible in the Vuelta a Murcia, but also in all April races", he concluded.