Fans rally behind still-unemployed Rubiera

Following the withdrawal of the Discovery Channel team from cycling, Chechu Rubiera is still not on the 2008 roster of a ProTour team, a fact his fans, represented by checurubiera.info, hopes to change.

"Chechu once told us that he had the best fans in the world," a spokesperson for the site said on Sunday in an open letter to the cycling community. "The team which hires Chechu Rubiera in 2008 will gain not only a dedicated professional and gifted athlete, but an extraordinary group of fans around the world. From Australia, South America, Africa, Germany, France, Belgium, Great Britain and Hungary. And in the US, from California, Texas, Missouri, Massachusetts, Washington, Arizona and Kansas. Not forgetting his aficionados, Spaniards who have supported him since his first win twenty years ago."

The letter posted on the site which is run by American Rebecca Bell, Scotland-based Nicky Orr and Paris-based Christine Kahane, calls for fans to support the former Lance Armstrong lieutenant and for teams to take the rider seriously. "Chechu Rubiera is important to us, not just for his titles and trophies. We support him because he is a decent man, who since 1995, has performed his role as team leader and gregario in Artiach, Kelme, US Postal and Discovery Channel with sacrifice and loyalty, and who has represented the interests of professional riders with integrity.

"The cycling community, struggling to survive every day, can't afford to lose Chechu Rubiera. They must ensure that this outstanding career does not end here."

Fans wishing to post messages of support for Rubiera can visit the site's message board at www.chechurubiera.info.