TVE not interested in Spanish championships

By Antonio J. Salmerón

Spanish public national television, TVE, is not interested in airing the national championships that take place this weekend in Cuenca, the same town where the 2006 Vuelta a España's stage 14 time trial allowed Alejandro Valverde to maintain his race leadership. Since last summer, many things have changed in cycling and TVE interests have been decreasing since Unipublic (the Vuelta's organiser) was bought by the private broadcasting group Antena 3.

"The negotiations with TVE are becoming very hard. They are not interested in the national championships. We hope to reach an agreement but, at the moment, there is nothing certain. The worse thing is that they are held this weekend," noted José Griñán, Corporative President of the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC), to Cyclingnews.

The 2006 national championships were not held due to a protest by the peloton in regards to the handling of the Operación Puerto investigations. Since the Paris-Nice has taken place in March, TVE has not transmitted any other stage race.