After already receiving two UCI extensions, the future of the Geox TMC team is looking very uncertain with what is likely to be the final deadline coming in the next few hours.
The UCI had fixed today, December second, as being the cutoff point for the team to present its documents for 2012. It appears that the backing sought from the Venezuelan government has still not been approved, with team managers Mauro Gianetti and Josean Matxin Fernandez still awaiting confirmation from the country’s president Hugo Chavez.
The latter has appeared to have given up hope that will take place, saying that he will be frank with the riders about the situation. “I can’t lie to them, and the truth is that we have nothing,” he told AS.
There were suggestions in recent days that the team had two options, with a commercial sponsor in advanced talks with management. However according to El Diario Montañés, everything appears now to rest on Chavez, and Matxin appeared discouraged yesterday by the fact that there was no news.
Gianetti has his fingers crossed that the UCI might show flexibility and further extend the deadline, given how tough the current sponsor search is for cycling.
With Denis Menchov thought likely to be heading elsewhere, Vuelta a España winner Juan Jose Cobo is the biggest name on the team and the main attraction in lobbying for sponsors. He’s shown commendable patience thus far, remaining loyal to the team and saying that he would give it every chance to find a deal. However he is now considering his options, and is considering the need to race elsewhere in 2012.
According to El Diario Montañés, Cobo is hoping that his agent “has something with another team, although he has not told me that, and I suppose that without racing I won’t stay next year.
“They [the UCI] gave an extension from day 20 [November 20th] until Friday [today] but it seems that there is no sign of anything. I and the rest of the team are waiting for something today or tomorrow [Thursday or Friday], from Venezuela or another sponsor, but it seems that things are getting complicated. It looked like it was going well in Venezuela but the situation is now complicated.
“I hope to keep racing and if tomorrow the team does not go forward, I will have to look at other options.” He had previously said that he felt very much at home in the squad and would stay if at all possible.
The team was given the first extension when it missed the deadline for the UCI WorldTour licence applications. The situation was caused by the late and unexpected withdrawal of Geox as the main sponsor, and the UCI showed some flexibility in giving extra time.
El Diario Montañés reported that last week the Licensing Commission extended the deadline due to a letter of intent sent from the Venezuelan government to the UCI. It believes that a further extension is very unlikely. VeloNation sought comment from the UCI but its spokesman has not yet been contactable this morning.