Will the Grupo Nicolás Mateos be around for two more seasons?

By Antonio J. Salmerón

The Grupo Nicolás Mateos may be around for two more seasons. It would be under a new management, led by Ginés García (formerly with 3 Molinos Resort). Luis Nicolás Mateos, owner of the real estate company that has sponsored the continental squad directed by José Luis de Santos during its two seasons of existence, "is determined to continue two more seasons, but as a Pro-continental squad," García assured today to Cyclingnews. The sponsor announced in June that the contract for the current continental team will not be renewed.

At the moment, the interest of collaboration of the local government (Murcia) has been received, "which is an essential endorsement, so that is a reality," García added. He is interested in having a maximum number of local cyclists, such as Jesús Buendia (Barbot). He would also like to keep Eloy Teruel and José Antonio Baños from the current continental squad, "although this project is born with a future mission [in mind], and for that reason, the addition of anyone of our ProTour riders, such as Luis León Sánchez or Fran Pérez, among others, is contemplated," García concluded.