Extremadura becomes professional team

By Monika Prell

The team Extremadura, until now a UCI Continental team, will move into the ranks of UCI Professional Continental teams for 2008. The team has already signed 16 riders, and is mainly formed by the riders who wore the Extremadura –Spiuk jersey in 2007.

According to todociclismo and Noticias de Gipuzkoa, the team signed five new riders: Aitor Pérez Arrieta, Rodrigo García, Carlos Torrent, Jaume Rovira and Xabat Otxotorena.

30 year-old Aitor Pérez Arrieta began his career on the Extremadura Spiuk team before he became professional with Caisse d'Epargne, where he stayed for two years. Xabat Otxotorena passed the last three years on the team Orbea Oreka, where the 26 years-old won this year one stage of the Circuito Montañés. The ex-Fuerteventura Canarias rider Rodrigo García won two stages of the Vuelta a Asturias this year, and made a good choice signing for Extremadura, as his former team Fuerteventura Canarias won't go on as Professional team. Jaume Rovira comes from the team Diputación de León, and the 33 years-old Carlos Torrent from the Viña Magna – Cropu team.