New sponsor for Karpin-Galicia in Vuelta lead-up

By Antonio J. Salmerón

Karpin-Galicia will be known as Xacobeo-Galicia in future, with the squad's current sponsors stopping its sponsorship. Former professional footballer Valery Karpin has dropped his sponsorship of the Professional Continental Spanish squad, leaving the team with sponsorship from the regional Government of Galicia, and new sponsor Xacobeo.

The Xacobeo-Galicia squad was presented by Fernando Blanco, from the Conselleiro de Industria of Galicia, yesterday. "The management company Xacobeo will sponsor the former cycling team Karpin-Galicia to promote the holy year in the country," he told Efe.

It is expected that contractual collaboration will continue until 2010. Xacobeo is a local touristic trademark, linked to a religious roman-catholic place: the Apostol Santiago cathedral which is a destination for thousands of pilgrims from around the world.

The team will contest the Vuelta a España with a nine rider team starting this Saturday in Granada.

David Garcia, Gustavo Cesar Veloso and Ezequiel Mosquera will be the team's leaders for the event. Also on the squad is Carlos Castaño, Galicians Serafín Martinez, Gustavo Dominguez, David Herrero and Iban Mayoz.

Former cyclist and current Xacobeo Galicia coach Alvaro Pino is confident about the team's chances. "The team has not disappointed this season," he said. "But the bar will be very high by recent results."