Mayo's future uncertain

By Susan Westemeyer and Antonio J. Salmerón

Iban Mayo is still uncertain about whether he will be riding for Euskaltel-Euskadi next year. His teammates Samuel Sanchez and Haimar Zubeldia have both renewed with the Basque outfit for the coming season, and Dioni Galpasoro (ex-Kaiku) has also signed for the team.

"I talked with my team on the subject; they made me an offer and told me that I have to answer them," he told EFE. "I phoned Miguel Madariaga (Euskaltel-Euskadi manager) yesterday to send them another reasonable offer. Now I am hoping for their answer."

The Basque rider insisted that his proposal was "reasonable", while at the same time, he admitted, "I believe that it is what I deserve. I cannot request what I was getting up until now, because I did not merit it.

"I promised them (Euskaltel-Euskadi) that when I decide something about my future, I will tell them, as I have done. There are other teams interested in me and that is very important for me. Once I know whether Euskaltel accepts what I have asked them, I will assess the best offer for me."

It is certainly clear where Mayo won't be riding next year. He reportedly has offers from his current team of Euskaltel, as well as from Cofidis and Gerolsteiner. That latter report drew a quick response from the German team. "That is totally ridiculous," Gerolsteiner spokesman Jörg Grünefeld told www.radsport-aktiv.de. "Iban Mayo will most probably never appear on the roster of Team Gerolsteiner, and especially not in 2007."