By Monika Prell
Iban Mayoz' future career is assured. The 26 year-old from San Sebastián has signed a contract with the Russian-Galician Pro Continental team Karpin Galicia.
Mayoz became a pro in 2004 with team Relax and then went on to race with Euskaltel-Euskadi in 2006. That's where he had the opportunity to participate twice in the Giro d’Italia and to collect experience in the ProTour, a fact that benefited the decision of Karpin Galicia, as they wished to sign experienced riders, reported Diario Vasco. The team has one big objective: the Vuelta a España, where Ezequiel Mosquera - fifth of the 2007 edition - will be one of the leaders in 2008 together with David Herrero and Carlos Castaño.
After his dismissal at Euskaltel-Euskadi, Mayoz would have liked to re-sign with his former team Relax-GAM. But in the end, he opted to join Karpin Galicia, as the future of Relax is more than doubtful.
Mayoz joins the team after sport director Álvaro Pino made his riders work out already during the last week of November and the first week of December. During the training camp, the team covered a part of the 'Camino de Santiago' (St. James Way) by mountain biking from Ponferrada to Sarria and from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela in two days. The third part of the meeting took place in Fragas de Eume, where they continued to train, so that they should be prepared for the first races of the season, the Tour de Langkawi and the Vuelta a Mallorca.
