Llaneras hired to direct Palma Arena

By Monika Prell

The Mallorcan track rider Joan Llaneras, ex-madison partner of the deceased Isaac Gálvez, signed a contract Saturday with the Balearic government. He will be the technical director of the velodrome "Palma Arena," if he retires from professional cycling after the Olympic games, like he announced.

According to Todociclismo, the signing was celebrated in the guildhall of Porreres, the birth location of Llaneras. His position will take effect in January of 2009 at the Palma de Mallorca facility. The government will pay over 100,000 euro, with 30% depending on Llaneras' results during the season.

Not that those results should be a problem. Llaneras, who has been professional for 17 years, is one of the most celebrated cyclists in the history of Spanish cycling. His most important results have been a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Sidney (2000) a silver medal in Athens (2004), and seven world championships.