Galdeano explains himself

Having finally decided to grant interviews after staying quiet through the team's recruitment process, incoming Euskaltel Euskadi General Manager Igor González de Galdeano sat down with Deia for an extensive interview. Here are the most relevant questions and answers, including his take on the new signings, the team's new philosophy, his reaction to that letter, etc. If you want to read the entire interview, click this link.

Question: What will it be like to present the new Euskaltel to the UCI?

Answer: The truth is that when I was presented with the opportunity to lead this team, I always said we couldn't be sure of being in the WorldTour. You can't buy your way into the WorldTour, it's not something you can be no matter what. I told them (the sponsors) that we might be in the WorldTour or we might not, but we have to go for it. If you don't go for it, you're not going to be there. To this day I believe we did what was needed, but it doesn't depend on me. I believe the list of the teams that are granted a licence will be released this week or the 1st of November, and one team will be left out. We strongly believe we're not that team.

Q: What arguments will you present to the Licencing Committee?

A: They seek a global sport, and we've now taken a step towards that. Our leaders are Basque - we will not budge on that, and I think the UCI understands that. Those are our roots, but they want teams to become more competitive in all races. Therefore, we've taken the initial step of signing nine non-Basque riders, riders who can help us improve on our weakness in one-day races.

Q: Is the price to pay for being in the WorldTour to high?

A: When Lotto was born, they wanted a team for Belgian cycling. They realized that with only Belgians, they weren't going to be able to be in the WorldTour, and therefore had to sign other riders. It's the same thing with Orica. We are the only team that, thanks to Miguel Madariaga's work, have Basque leaders. But we have to adhere to the regulations in place. It's not about whether the price to pay is high or low. It is what it is. If you want to be in the WorldTour, you have to meet certain standards.

Q: What's it been like for you personally to take such an unpopular decision?

A: It was a hard decision to make, seeing as everything is reflected in me. It seems that Igor is the one who made this decision. I take responsibility for it, but it hasn't been Igor's decision. It was the decision of all the sponsors who wanted to be in the best league. Euskadi want to be represented as a brand on a global level and want to stay there. I asked them if we could adapt to this situation and work towards an increasingly Basque team in the future. Our sponsors wanted the team to remain exclusively Basque, but the regulations in place prevent us from doing that.

Q: Is the team's philosophy abandoned?

A: We're adapting our philosophy to the UCI's rules. We don't have 29 Basque riders that would make us part of the WorldTour, so we have to adapt.

Q: But it's a big change after 18 years.

A: Yes, but it wasn't our decision. They warned us we would have problems (with the licence) in the future - every year we had less points and the other teams more.

Q: Does the ex-Euskaltel riders' letter mirror this divide ('divide' is related to an earlier question not included here)?

A: I think it's a letter against me under the guise of the team's philosophy. It's a letter to Igor; it's got nothing to do with the team. I reflected on whether they're all members of the Fundación, members of Euskaltel, tax payers in Euskadi... I've thought about it a lot. Here we're all Basques. I respect the letter, I don't agree with it and everyone should be responsible for their own actions.

Q: How do you rate your team?

A: We continue with a basis of Basque riders, with a view to the future and to the present, and they're joined by two experienced Germans - something I also looked for in Óscar Freire. They're veterans, they know what it's all about. They've given a very good impression. I told them we're not looking for them to grow as riders, but that they're here to help the young riders and keep the team in the WorldTour. I tried to sign riders who could help us in one-day races. Jure Kocjan is motivated for the Classics. Serebryakov is the one I've seen with the biggest ambitions. Vrecer and Tamouridis are two veterans who are great at time trialling, national champions, who'll solidify this project.