By Monika Prell
Unipublic, the organizers of the Vuelta a España, did not invite the team Fuerteventura - Canarias in part due to the presence of Vicente Belda. The ex-Sport director of the team Kelme-Costa Blanca has served this year as Sport Advisor of the new Fuerteventura - Canarias team.
Although they were not initially invited, Fuerteventura-Canarias still hoped to be allowed to compete after Astana was excluded, but Unipublic held firm. The team is disheartened by the decision, which may influence their sponsorship prospects going into 2008.
Belda, who is allegedly implicated in the Operación Puerto, declared to El Correo that he is willing to leave the team. He said he would let the team make a decision about the future of his involvement.
Fuerteventura-Canarias had hoped to open doors by participating in the Vuelta, but it seems unlikely that Unipublic will change its opinion at the last minute.
