Team Geox continues its aim to race in all three Grand Tours, including the Tour de France, despite failing to receive a first division licence. It hopes to have a chance to win at least one with new signees Carlos Sastre and Denis Menchov.
"In spite of the decision by the UCI," Sports Director Joxean Fernández Matxin told Spain's Biciclismo website, "we hope to race all three Grand Tours as wild cards entries."
The International Cycling Union (UCI) named the 18 teams that will compete in the first division on Monday. It used a points-based ranking to come up with its sporting criteria. The first 15 teams were nearly guaranteed a ProTeam or first division licence, but the teams ranked 15th to 20th – Euskaltel, Geox, Quick Step, Cofidis and AG2R – had to fight for the remaining three licences. Geox and Cofidis missed out.
"What do we need to do to be at the top level?" said Team Manager, Swiss Mauro Gianetti.
"I do not understand it. If cycling takes this path, it gets what it deserves."
Geox passed the first rounds of selection and was listed by the UCI on October 5 as a possible first division team. The UCI selected the teams based on their ethics, financial strength, administration and ranking. Geox placed 17th on the ranked list issued on November 2.
"Nobody knows the points system, which shows that something is not clear. If it is difficult for us to understand this situation, imagine trying to explain it to someone else."
"I don't understand how the classification can penalise a team like ours. We have four victories in Grand Tours: the Tour with Sastre, and the Giro and two Vueltas with Menchov."
Without a ProTeam licence, Geox-TMC will race next year as a second division team and aim for wild card spots in the three Grand Tours.
"Geox gave us their confidence in the project [through 2014] and Carlos Sastre called us to show his unconditional support. Tonight [yesterday - ed.], I will go to have coffee with Menchov," said Matxin.
"We want to race the best races on the calendar. Sastre, for example, plans to compete in all three Grand Tours once again and Menchov in two of them: either Giro and Tour or Tour and Vuelta."
Geox will meet on Tuesday in Hoznayo (Cantabria) for the first time ahead of next season. The riders will receive their bikes and kit, and try to plan their racing schedules.
"We may have to approximate the schedules," added Matxin. "It seems unbelievable, with the group we have, we find ourselves in this situation."
The 2011 team:
Matthias Brandle (Austria)
Giampaolo Cheula (Italy)
Marco Corti (Italy)
Arkaitz Durán (Spain)
Markus Eibegger (Austria)
Fabio Felline (Italy)
Noe Gianetti (Switzerland)
David Gutierrez Gutierrez (Spain)
Rafael Valls Ferri (Spain)
Johnnie Walker (Australia)
New riders:
Tomas Alberio (Italy)
Mauricio Ardila Cano (Colombia)
David Blanco (Spain)
Juan José Cobo (Spain)
Daniele Colli (Italy)
David De La Fuente (Spain)
Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo
Dmitry Kozontchouk (Russia)
Marko Kump (Slovenia)
Denis Menchov (Russia)
Matteo Pelucchi (Italy)
Daniele Ratto (Italy)
Carlos Sastre (Spain)
Marcel Wyss (Switzerland)