Extremadura leaves cycling

By Antonio J. Salmerón

Spain's Team Extremadura leaves the European professional peloton at the end of this month. The team was self-funded by its members after losing co-sponsor Spiuk at the beginning of the year.

The fund, Ciclismo Solidario, covered around 40 percent of the budget and the other funds came from the regional government of Extremadura. The search for a second sponsor, made worse by the team's non-invite to the Vuelta a España, was unsuccessful.

The management of the Extremadura-Ciclismo Solidario squad noted its "deeply regrets that for the project's end," in a press release. It did express satisfaction with its "work well done".

Team Extremadura decided to say goodbye in the next days to meet the deadline of October 30, when the squad would have to register with the International Cycling Union (UCI) for 2009. It maintains an agreement with the regional government to create a new under-23 and elite level team.