Spanish cycling team (1980–2006)
Kelme was a professional cycling team based in Spain.
History Óscar Sevilla riding for Kelme in 2002In 1979, Kelme sponsored the mountains classification in the Vuelta a España . The owners of Kelme were not satisfied with the publicity that this produced, so they decided to sponsor a cycling team instead.[1]
The Kelme team was formed from another Spanish cycling team, Transmallorca, in 1980. From the 2004 cycling season, the Valencian government took the main sponsorship, Kelme becoming co-sponsor, finally dropping from the team at the end of the year. Despite this, the team kept on running, but its days were numbered when on 20 August 2006, because of doping allegations on Operación Puerto , the Valencian government dropped its sponsorship. This was to become the last year for the oldest team in the peloton. The last couple of years, it was managed by Vicente Belda , a former cyclist who rode for the team from 1980 to 1988. Famous former riders included Alejandro Valverde , Roberto Heras , Aitor González , Óscar Sevilla , Ángel Casero , and Fernando Escartín . The team's major results include two wins in the Vuelta a España : by Roberto Heras in 2000 and Aitor González in 2002.
Doping controversy In March 2004, in an interview with the Spanish newspaper AS , the former Kelme cyclist Jesús Manzano exposed the systematic doping in the team. During the interview he detailed blood doping [2] as well as the various performance-enhancing drugs he used while on the team.[3] Immediately the Kelme team denied the allegations, and Jean-Marie Leblanc , the director of the Tour de France, was also sceptical about the allegations.[4] After more detailed revelations, the Kelme team who had been invited to the 2004 Tour de France had their invitation withdrawn.[5]
The subsequent investigation into Manzano's doping activities and the allegations he made led to the questioning of several members of the Kelme team in April 2004. These included Eufemiano Fuentes , who was at that time the Kelme team doctor; Walter Virú, the previous team doctor; and Alfredo Córdova, who was working for Liberty Seguros but had been involved with Kelme in 2003.[6]
An investigation began into the practises of Fuentes in early 2006 by Central Operating Unit, the anti-drug trafficking arm of the Spanish Guardia Civil .[7] In May 2006, several arrests were made. Manzano's statements had led directly to the development of this investigation.[8] In June 2007 Manzano claimed that Alejandro Valverde doped with testosterone during the 2002 Vuelta a España .[9]
Major wins 1980 Circuito de Getxo , Felipe Yáñez de la Torre GP Llodio , Felipe Yáñez de la TorreStage 6, Vuelta a Cantabria , Francisco Ramon Albelda 1981 Stage 11 Vuelta a España, Jesús Suárez Memorial Manuel Galera , Juan Fernández Memoria Santi Andia, Jesús Suárez 2 stages Vuelta a Aragón Stage 2, Vuelta Asturias , Jesús Suárez Stage 5, Vuelta a Cantabria , Jesús Suárez Stage 1, Deutschland Tour , Juan Fernández 1982 Stage 7, Vuelta a España, Enrique Martinez Memorial Manuel Galera, Jesús Delgado Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama , Vicente Belda Overall and 1 stage, Vuelta Asturias Overall and prologue, Costa del Azahar Madrid six days Stage 4, Tour of the Basque Country 1983 Memorial Manuel Galera, Jesús Delgado Subida al Naranco , Vicente BeldaAlqueiras, Francisco Ramon Albelda Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia , José Recio Stage 3, Vuelta a La Rioja , Miguel Guerrero 1984 Subida a Urkiola , Vicente BeldaSubida al Naranco, Vicente Belda Stage 6b, Vuelta Asturias, Miguel Angel Guerrero 1985 Overall, Vuelta a Murcia , José Recio Subida al Naranco, José-Alirio Chizabas Circuito de Getxo, Antonio Esparza Bages , Miguel Angel GuerreroSegovia , Miguel Angel Guerrero1986 Subida a Urkiola, Oscar J. Vargas 1987 Memorial Manuel Galera, Juan Martinéz 1988 Stage 4, Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme , Jaime Vilamajo 1989 Stage 3, Vuelta a Murcia, Juan Martinéz 1990 Mountains classification, 1990 Vuelta a España 1991 Stage 2, Vuelta a los valles Mineros 1992 Memorial Manuel Galera, Francisco Cabello GP Llodio , Ángel Edo Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama, Oswaldo Mora Russia Road Race championshipStage 6, Criterium du Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 1993 Spain Road Race championshipTrofeo Mallorca , Asiat Saitov1994 Overall, Challenge Mallorca , Francisco Cabello Trofeo Masferrer , Ángel EdoTrofeo Soller , Ángel EdoGP Llodio, Asiat Saitov Stage 1, Vuelta a Andalucía Vuelta a Andalucía , Ángel Edo Stage 4, Route du Sud , Asiat Saitov 1995 Memorial Manuel Galera, Ignacio Garcia Camacho Overall and 3 stages, Vuelta a Colombia Stage 3, Vuelta an Andalucía, Ruta del Sol, Francisco Cabello 1996 Overall, Challenge Mallorca, Francisco Cabello Trofeo Soller, Francisco Cabello Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama, Fernando Escartín Stage 13, Vuelta a Colombia, Julio Cabrera Stage 3, Vuelta a Castilla y León , Mariano Moreda Stage 2, Vuelta Asturias, Mariano Moreda 1997 Stage 12, Vuelta a España, Roberto Heras Overall and 1 stage, Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme Overall, Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana , Juan Carlos Domínguez Overall and 2 stages, Vuelta a Murcia Overall and 1 stage, Volta a Catalunya Subida al Naranco, Roberto Heras Stage 2, Vuelta Asturias, Fernando Escartín 1998 Klasika Primavera , Roberto HerasSubida al Naranco, José-Luis Rubiera Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama, Marcos Serrano Stage 8, Volta a Catalunya, Fernando Escartín Stage 1, Vuelta a Aragón , Fernando Escartín 1999 Overall and 1 stage, Vuelta an Andalucía, Ruta del Sol Klasika Primavera, Roberto Heras Trofeo Calvià , Francisco CabelloCastillon-la-Bataille , Fernando EscartínStage 5, Paris–Nice , Santiago Botero Stage 4, Tour de Romandie , Óscar Sevilla 2 stages Euskal Bizikleta 2 stages, Vuelta a Murcia 2 stages, Vuelta Asturias Stage 4, Vuelta a Aragón, Eduardo Hernandez Stage 6, Volta a Catalunya, Roberto Heras 2000 Overall and 2 stages, 2000 Vuelta a España 2 stages and Mountains Classification 2000 Tour de France Stage 13, Giro d'Italia , José-Luis Rubiera Overall, Challenge Mallorca, Francisco Cabello Trofeo Antratx, Francisco Cabello Clásica de Almería , Isaac Gálvez Six Jours de Grenoble, Isaac Gálvez Critérium Foral de Navarra, Roberto Heras Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia , Javier OtxoaSubida al Naranco, José-Luis Rubiera Memorial Manuel Galera, Óscar Sevilla Trofeo Luis Ocaña, Óscar Sevilla Stage 2, Vuelta a Murcia, Francisco Cabello Stage 3, Tour du Limousin , Aitor González Stage 4, Tour du Limousin, Félix Cárdenas Stage 2, Volta ao Algarve, Aitor González 2 stages, Vuelta a la Communidad Valenciana 2001 1 stage and Young rider classification Tour de France Overall and 2 stages Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama, Santiago Botero Echeverry Clásica de Sabiñánigo, Angel Vicioso Arcos GP Miguel Induráin, Angel Vicioso Arcos GP Llodio, Juan José de los Ángeles Segui 2 stages Tour de l'Avenir Stage 2 GP Mosqueteiros – Rota do Marquês, Marina Grande, Isaac Gálvez Lopez Stage 2 Volta ao Alentejo, Grandola, Isaac Gálvez Lopez Stage 4 Volta ao Alentejo, Alandroal, Angel Vicioso Arcos Stage 1b Vuelta a Castilla y León, El Espinar, Javier Pascual Llorente Stage 5 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Alto del Redondal, Javier Pascual Llorente Stage 1 Volta a Portugal, Odivelas, Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez Stage 6 Circuito Montañés, Torrelavega, Eligio Requeio Dominguez 2002 2 stages 2002 Tour de France , Santiago Botero 2 stages Giro d'Italia 1st overall 2002 Vuelta a España , Aitor González Jimenez World Time Trial championships, Botero 1st overall Challenge Mallorca, Francisco Cabello Trofeo Mallorca, Isaac Gálvez Lopez Valencia, Óscar Sevilla Ribera GP Miguel Induráin, Angel Vicioso Arcos Klasika Primavera, Angel Vicioso Arcos Stage 3 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Pierrelatte, Santiago Botero Echeverry Stage 7 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Genève, José Enrique Gutiérrez Cataluña Trofeo de Palma, Palma, Isaac Gálvez Lopez Classique des Alpes, Santiago Botero Echeverry Profronde van Pijnacker, Santiago Botero Echeverry Profronde van Surhuisterveen, Santiago Botero Echeverry Stage 7 Volta a Portugal, Alcobaça, David Muñoz Bañón Stage 8 Volta a Portugal, Castelo Branco, Alexis Rodriguez Hernandez 2003 1st 2 stages, Combination classification 2003 Vuelta a España 1st overall Challenge Mallorca, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte Trofeo Mallorca, Palma, Isaac Gálvez Lopez 1st overall and 2 stages Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia, Javier Pascual Llorente Criterium Valencia, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte Circuito de Getxo, Roberto Lozano Montero Trofeo Alcudia, Porto Cristo, Isaac Gálvez Lopez Stage 4a Troféu Joaquim Agostinho, Ribemar, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte Stage 5a Troféu Joaquim Agostinho, Ribemar, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte Stage 3 Vuelta an Andalucía, Ruta del Sol, Altro Ntra. Sra.de Araceli, Lucena, Javier Pascual Llorente Stage 4 Volta a Catalunya, Llívia, Jesus Maria Manzano Ruano Stage 3 Vuelta Ciclista an Aragón, Illueca, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte Stage 3 Tour of the Basque Country, Vitoria, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte 2004 4 stages 2004 Vuelta a España 1st overall and 2 stages, Vuelta Ciclista a la Communidad Valenciana 1st overall Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia 1st overall and 3 stages Vuelta Ciclista a Burgos 1st overall and 2 stages GP Estremadura – RTP Trofeo Manacor Klasika Primavera 2 stages Tour of the Basque Country 3 stages Vuelta a Castilla y León Stage 5 Troféu Joaquim Agostinho Stage 4a Vuelta de la Paz Stage 4 Clásica de Fusagasugá, Circuit Fusagasuga, Iván Ramiro Parra Pinto 2 stages Volta a Portugal 2005 3 stages 2005 Vuelta a España 1st overall and 1 stage Vuelta a Andalucía 1st overall Vuelta a Asturias Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia 1st overall and 2 stages Vuelta a Castilla y León 1st overall and 1 stage Vuelta Ciclista a la Rioja 1st overall and 1 stage Euskal Bizikleta Mountains classification Tour of the Basque Country GP Miguel Induráin 1st overall and 1 stage GP Internacional Costa Azul 1st overall and 1 stage Vuelta a Aragón Stage 8 Volta a Portugal Stage 2 Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia 2006 1st overall Challenge Mallorca 1st overall and 2 stages, Volta a Portugal Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama 2 stages Troféu Joaquim Agostinho Stage 2 Vuelta a Andalucía Stage 3 Giro del Trentino Stage 5 Vuelta a Asturias Trofeo Pollença References ^ Haan, Rob de (3 March 2010). "Aanvalluh!!!!". www.nusport.nl (in Dutch). Sanoma Uitgevers. Retrieved 10 May 2010 . ^ Fotheringham, William (2004-09-22). "It can kill, but blood doping is in vogue again". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 2008-04-01 . ^ "More revelations from Manzano". Cyclingnews.com . Retrieved 2008-03-28 . ^ "Manzano affair". Cyclingnews.com . Retrieved 2008-03-28 . ^ "No Tour invitation for Kelme". Cyclingnews.com . Retrieved 2008-03-28 . ^ "Manzano investigation widens". Cyclingnews.com . Retrieved 2008-03-28 . ^ "Everyone clean". Cyclingnews.com . Retrieved 2008-03-28 . ^ "Manzano's statements pivotal to latest scandal". Cyclingnews.com . Retrieved 2008-03-28 . ^ "Manzano slams Valverde and Aldag". Cyclingnews.com . Retrieved 2008-03-28 . External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kelme cycling team .
Official Site (in Spanish) Cycling Stats