27 year-old Jorge Garcia is the latest rider from Relax-GAM to hang up the bike rather than face unemployment in 2008. The team, which was a UCI Professional Continental squad for 2007 failed to complete the UCI's requirements to renew its license for the coming season after negotiations to keep GAM as title sponsor failed.
Garcia told the Spanish newspaper El Heraldo about his decision to quit racing. "It is a deliberate decision," said Garcia. "I would gladly come back, but there is no other choice. I leave at 27 years of age, which is too soon for me."
"If after the Vuelta they had said to me that they did not have a team for me I would have reconsidered, but now I have no confidence in my team and it is too late to find a place in another squad.
After Relax renewed as title sponsor, Garcia and Angel Vicioso renewed their contracts, but the loss of GAM and the failure to secure another sponsor has put the future of the team in question. "I know that they have done everything possible to keep the team moving forward, but have thought little about the riders and assistants. They did not say anything to me of the disappearance, nor of the loss of GAM, only that they were waiting for another sponsor."
