Despite having some of the best riders of current times, the Spanish peloton is floundering and the achievements of Contador, Purito, Valverde, Samuel Sánchez, Ventoso, Dani Moreno and Luis León, among others, have not been enough to return the country's cycling scene to its former splendour.
Joaquín Rodríguez ended the year as world number 1 and Spain has triumphed for yet another season in the national rankings, but Spanish cyclists are being increasingly forced to base themselves abroad as the national peloton finds itself with a shortage of teams.
In fact, in 2013, the Spanish peloton will only consist of three professional teams: Movistar and Euskatel which, fortunately, make up part of the World Tour elite – cycling's first division – and Caja Rural which, due to its Professional Continental classification, can also enter the big tours, particularly the Vuelta a España, as long as it applies for and receives an invitation.
Andalucía has fallen by the wayside this winter and will count itself lucky if it remains in the Continental (third division) category following debts racked up due to payment defaults from its main public sector sponsor, none other than the Andalusian Government.
The best case scenario therefore will be to have three Spanish teams in the 2013 Vuelta because, even if Andalucía keeps going, its Continental team status will prevent it from racing. You would have to look back to the 1970s for such low numbers, although only a handful of teams competed in the Spanish race then compared to the 22 of today.
Long gone are the times when there were ten Spanish teams competing in the Vuelta.
Joaquín Rodríguez ended the year as world number 1 and Spain has triumphed for yet another season in the national rankings, but Spanish cyclists are being increasingly forced to base themselves abroad as the national peloton finds itself with a shortage of teams.
In fact, in 2013, the Spanish peloton will only consist of three professional teams: Movistar and Euskatel which, fortunately, make up part of the World Tour elite – cycling's first division – and Caja Rural which, due to its Professional Continental classification, can also enter the big tours, particularly the Vuelta a España, as long as it applies for and receives an invitation.Andalucía has fallen by the wayside this winter and will count itself lucky if it remains in the Continental (third division) category following debts racked up due to payment defaults from its main public sector sponsor, none other than the Andalusian Government.
The best case scenario therefore will be to have three Spanish teams in the 2013 Vuelta because, even if Andalucía keeps going, its Continental team status will prevent it from racing. You would have to look back to the 1970s for such low numbers, although only a handful of teams competed in the Spanish race then compared to the 22 of today.
Long gone are the times when there were ten Spanish teams competing in the Vuelta.
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