Caisse d’Epargne boss welcomes Telefónica, feels his captain's punishment was too severe and still thinks he can sign Alberto Contador
Alejandro Valverde was unfairly punished was one of the views expressed by Caisse d’Epargne boss Eusabio Unzué as he appeared on Spanish TV show Foro Ferrándiz-As, according to esciclismo.com. On a more positive note Unzué was excited about the arrival of Telefónica, whose cellphone arm Movistar is to take over from the French bank as the team’s principle sponsor next year; he also spoke about his belief that he will be able to sigh three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador when his new contract with Saxo Bank-Sungard is over.
“Alejandro has been made to suffer most, this injustice is of a high calibre," said Unzué of his fallen star. "Cycling is a sport that can’t afford the luxury of sacrificing one of its stars, and we have to take it forward."
While the original alleged 200-strong list of athletes across a number of sports, uncovered in Operación Puerto, contained the names of around 50 cyclists, very few have actually been sanctioned. 1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich’s career was ended by the allegations that he was using the services of Eufemiano Fuentes, and Ivan Basso and Michele Scarponi were both suspended after their involvement was proven by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).
Valverde’s suspension was applied after CONI managed to match his DNA, taken in an in-race competition when the 2008 Tour passed into Italy, with that of some of the bags of blood in Fuentes’ fridge. Until that point, no other Spanish riders had been convicted of being involved, although many had their careers affected.
"It’s not up to me to show whether the punishment is fair or not," Unzué added. "We are working to see if he can return as soon as possible"
Unzué makes no secret of his desire to sign the current biggest Spanish star, three-time Tour winner Alberto Contador, to his team. Comparing him with Valverde, the “forgotten” winner of the 2009 Vuelta a España, is strange though, with both riders enjoying very different situations right now.
“It’s normal for Alberto capitalise on everything,” said Unzué, "Regardless of his style and ways, is making his mark on cycling. He has won five Grand Tours and is likely to win more, and all at a time in which if he had not done, cycling had gone downhill."
Unzué had been one of the many teams standing in line for the signature of the 27-year-old, but the uncertainty over the team’s future prevented him from making a solid offer.
"At the end of the Tour we were limited because we had to wait for a response from Telefónica and because its decision affects a lot of people,” he explained. “I could not assure anything and take the chance that eight days later we’d receive the 'OK'"
Despite missing out on Contador, the suspension of Valverde, and the loss of some top riders like Luis Leon Sanchez, who is leaving for Rabobank, things are not so bad for Unzué.
"I don't think that the outcome is bad,” he said, “it’s a reason for welcoming the arrival of Telefónica, we have got a developing structure but without a great leader."
With Movistar committing for three years, and proclaiming its intention to stay longer, Unzué has the luxury of being able to build his team for the future.
"We will try to consolidate the structure and the brand,” he explained, “then see if in 2012 we have Alejandro, and Alberto in 2013, when he will be at the end of his contract and we will decide if we can have him.”
While Unzué is sad to have missed out on Contador this time around, he realises that it could not be helped. “The fact that this didn’t happen wasn't the fault of Alberto,” he said, “nor of us or Telefónica"
With the search for sponsors getting ever harder, with some ProTour teams like Milram almost certain to fold, Unzué is grateful to have found his new backer.
"Is a sport that has been abused for its mistakes,” he said, “whose punishment has been in disproportion, compared to other sports, which is why I am so pleased at the arrival of Telefónica"