Footon-Servetto-Fuji Team Roster 2010
The Footon-Fuji team management (Fuji-Servetto in 2009) has decided to make a
bold move and to trust in youth over experience for the 2010 season.
Incredibly, only four riders remain from the squad that had a not very
successful 2009. Managers Mauro Gianetti and Joxean Fernández Matxin realized
that financial constraints meant that the team would have to drastically cut its
operating budget.
"There was a lot of skepticism about the team… But cycling is like life.
There are good moments when you are up and offers when you are down. The 2009
season was difficult, complicated, but we’re still here," Matxin told El Diario
Vasco, a Spanish newspaper.
The Footon-Fuji team has experienced two years of drug scandals, first as the
Saunier-Duval team and then as Fuji-Servetto. The management are hoping that by
bringing in new, young riders, they can change the attitude and culture of the
team. Two riders that had to leave are Vuelta stage winner Juan José Cobo and
David De La Fuente, both strong, experienced pros. Many of the new riders are
new to the top level of the sport.
Maxtin however has high hopes for the new group - in particular Italian Eros
Capecchi, Spain’s Arkaitz Durán, Austrian Markus Eibegger and Dane Martin
Pedersen, winner of the 2006 Tour of Britain.
"Some of them are not well known but we will see in time. They are going to
have the unique opportunity to be in the best races in the world alongside the
best riders. We’ve always got four speedy sprinters: [Manuel] Cardoso, [Felix]
Celis, [Enrique] Mata and [Michele] Merlo." Merlo (ex-Barloworld) is a decent
sprinter, who won the final stage of the 2009 Tour of Britain in London.
Matxin recognizes that the team is in a season of transition, and they hope
that the 2010 season will lay a solid foundation for later.
The team has also taken the interesting decision not to allow any medicine or
vitamins to be administered by syringe. Instead, everything will be taken
orally. "We’ve taken the decision … that we will not use syringes for the
administration of products that are permitted. We want to change a lot of
things."
Footon is a healthcare product company, Fuji a major bicycle brand. The team
started in the Tour Down Under this week and Mauel Cardoso delivered a stage win
in Australia the day after Rafael Valls won a stage and took the leaders jersey
in the Tour de San Luis in Argentina. Though Valls lost the leaders jersey on
the following days time trial in San Luis he remains in contention with two days
remaining in the Argentine tour.
One could say that Maxtin has gotten his lads off to a good start for 2010 so
his strategic plan has met with almost instant excellent results and validation
which hopefully translates into a successful year for the Spanish team.
Footen/Servetto Website
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