Galdós - Our agreement wasn't respected

While the signings of Amets Txurruka, Iván Velasco, David Arroyo, Omar Fraile et al. have widely been hailed as masterstrokes by the Spanish and international press, there's quite a few who are not that impressed with the dealings at Floren Esquisabel's Caja Rural outfit. A number of talented youngsters have seen their dreams of turning professional postponed yet another year, while, equally alarming, a considerable number of current employees claim their departures from the team have been unceremonious at best.

Sports manager and lead sports director Mikel Azparren, highly thought of and held in high regard by riders and fans alike, was surprisingly let go at the end of the season, and has recently criticized the team's handling of his departure in no uncertain terms through the media. The once-promising David de la Fuente is likely to call his cycling career quits this year, having not gotten his deal with Caja Rural renewed despite assurances from the team top he would be kept on into 2013.

Former Euskaltel sprinter and one-day rider Aitor Galdós also looks increasingly likely to hang up his bike for good at the relatively tender age of 33 after being let go by the team - and isn't best pleased with how he's been treated either.

"Right now I have nothing", he told Deia. "I'm without a team. It's a complicated situation. Surely I'll now have to decide to do something else. Finding a team is impossible. But I don't know why my time at Caja Rural is up. We had an agreement in place for 2013 that wasn't respected. It was surprising. I think I did enough to merit another year.

"I really enjoyed my two years at the team though. What's more, I had the opportunity to meet a guy like Mikel Azparren, a guy I think did very well while he was here".

Though it's slim pickings for professional cyclists in Spain at the moment, he did receive "a few offers", but decided against accepting them. Looking forward, though, he's clear on where he wants to be.

"I've always said I wanted to stay connected to cycling. I've got the directeur sportif title, and that would be the dream if I can't keep riding. If nothing happens in the next two weeks, I'll know my sporting career has come to an end. Then I'll try to work as a DS".

Galdós, who spent four years in the orange jersey between 2007 and 2011, has been spotted at the occasional 'cross race this off-season, but admits he's more attracted to triathlons and might try them out in the future. With less than 48 hours to go before the new year, time is running out to secure a future on the road.

Photo: Noticias de Gipuzkoa