Team information | |
---|---|
UCI code | KEL |
Registered | Spain |
Founded | 1980 |
Disbanded | 2006 |
Discipline(s) | Road |
Team name history | |
1980–1981 1982 1983–1984 1985 1986–1989 1990–1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998–2003 2004 2005 2006 | Kelme–Gios Kelme–Merckx Kelme Kelme–Merckx Kelme Kelme–Ibexpress Kelme–Don Cafe Kelme–Xacobeo Kelme–Avianca–Gios Kelme–Sureña Kelme–Artiach Kelme–Costa Blanca–Eurosport Kelme–Costa Blanca Comunidad Valenciana–Kelme Comunidad Valenciana–Elche Comunidad Valenciana |
Kelme was a professional cycling team based in Spain.
In 1979, Kelme sponsored the mountains classification in the Vuelta a España. The owners of Kelme were not satisfied with the publicity that this produced, so they decided to sponsor a cycling team instead. [1]
The Kelme team was formed from another Spanish cycling team, Transmallorca, in 1980. From the 2004 cycling season, the Valencian government took the main sponsorship, Kelme becoming co-sponsor, finally dropping from the team at the end of the year. Despite this, the team kept on running, but its days were numbered when on 20 August 2006, because of doping allegations on Operación Puerto, the Valencian government dropped its sponsorship. This was to become the last year for the oldest team in the peloton. The last couple of years, it was managed by Vicente Belda, a former cyclist who rode for the team from 1980 to 1988. Famous former riders included Alejandro Valverde, Roberto Heras, Aitor González, Óscar Sevilla, Ángel Casero, and Fernando Escartín. The team's major results include two wins in the Vuelta a España: by Roberto Heras in 2000 and Aitor González in 2002.
In March 2004, in an interview with the Spanish newspaper AS , the former Kelme cyclist Jesús Manzano exposed the systematic doping in the team. During the interview he detailed blood doping [2] as well as the various performance-enhancing drugs he used while on the team. [3] Immediately the Kelme team denied the allegations, and Jean-Marie Leblanc, the director of the Tour de France, was also sceptical about the allegations. [4] After more detailed revelations, the Kelme team who had been invited to the 2004 Tour de France had their invitation withdrawn. [5]
The subsequent investigation into Manzano's doping activities and the allegations he made led to the questioning of several members of the Kelme team in April 2004. These included Eufemiano Fuentes, who was at that time the Kelme team doctor; Walter Virú, the previous team doctor; and Alfredo Córdova, who was working for Liberty Seguros but had been involved with Kelme in 2003. [6]
An investigation began into the practises of Fuentes in early 2006 by Central Operating Unit, the anti-drug trafficking arm of the Spanish Guardia Civil. [7] In May 2006, several arrests were made. Manzano's statements had led directly to the development of this investigation. [8] In June 2007 Manzano claimed that Alejandro Valverde doped with testosterone during the 2002 Vuelta a España. [9]
Roberto Heras Hernández is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer who won the Vuelta a España a record four times. Between 1997 and 2005 he finished in the top 5 of the Vuelta every year except 1998 when he finished 6th. He won a record-tying three times, and then broke the record with a fourth win in 2005, but he was eventually disqualified after being accused of taking EPO. Heras chose to fight the accusations and this resulted in a lengthy court case and appeal process.
Óscar Miguel Sevilla Rivera, nicknamed El Niño, is a Spanish-Colombian professional road bicycle racer, who currently rides for UCI Continental team Team Medellín–EPM. He is a climber with a pedigree in stage races, having finished in the top ten of the Tour de France and Vuelta a España several times.
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Ángel Vicioso Arcos is a Spanish former road racing cyclist, who competed professionally between 1999 and 2017 for the Kelme–Costa Blanca, Astana, Relax–GAM, LA–MSS, Andalucía–Cajasur, Androni Giocattoli and Team Katusha–Alpecin squads.
Domingo Perurena Telletxea or Txomin Perurena was a Spanish professional road racing cyclist. He was most famous for winning the overall mountains classification of 1974 Tour de France. He also finished second at the 1975 Vuelta a España and won a total of 12 stages in this race.
Ángel Edo Alsina is a Spanish former professional road racing cyclist, who competed from 1992 to 2007 as a professional. He competed in the individual road race at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
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Pello Ruiz Cabestany is a Spanish former professional road racing cyclist.
Fermín Trueba Pérez was a Spanish road cyclist.
Jesús Blanco Villar is a Spanish former professional racing cyclist. He rode in three editions of the Tour de France, one edition of the Giro d'Italia and ten editions of the Vuelta a España.
Carlos Hernández Bailo is a Spanish former professional racing cyclist. He rode in seven editions of the Tour de France and ten editions of the Vuelta a España.
Antonio Coll is a Spanish former professional racing cyclist. He rode in three editions of the Tour de France and seven editions of the Vuelta a España.
Felipe Yáñez is a Spanish former professional racing cyclist. He rode in two editions of the Tour de France and nine editions of the Vuelta a España.
Javier Ramírez Abeja is a Spanish former cyclist.
Artiach was a Spanish professional cycling team that existed from 1984 to 1995. It was merged into the Kelme–Sureña team for the 1996 season, becoming Kelme–Artiach. Pedro Delgado won the general classification of the 1985 Vuelta a España with the team.