By Monika Prell
Carlos Abellán has decided to retire from cycling. The 23 year-old became professional in 2006 with Liberty Seguros-Würth and signed a contract until the end of 2007. After the disappearance of the team due to the implication in the Operación Puerto, Abellán did not receive any other offer from other teams.
"My main problem was not the disappearance of the team but that they [the management] gave me the notice at the end of December, when the other teams were almost all closed and it was almost impossible to find a spot in one of them, also in a moment when cycling is going through a big crisis with many unemployed cyclists."
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According to the Spanish newspaper Marca, he was frustrated of "the helplessness in the face of a problem that was not mine and that hit me like a collision, and which damaged me at the maximum."
His goal is now to find a new team for 2008. "The strong relationship that I have with this sport hurts me to give it up so early without struggling one last time. I want to decide myself if I give up cycling" explained Abellán. He is convinced that "in the professional world effort and joy are less important things when money and other interests are in the picture. "I heard the 'everything has got a price' a time ago but I didn't understand the meaning. Now, unfortunately I do."
Finding a team for 2008 is "possible, but not easy and nobody can assure it. I have to believe in this and to spend this year, however it will be, only trying to come back. I will ride in a lower category and try other means for staying fit."
