By Antonio J. Salmerón
Eusebio Unzué confirmed that 3 Molinos Resort properties is interested in signing with the Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears team. 3 Molinos intends to reach a sponsorship agreement by December 31st, by which time the commitment of the Balearic Government should also be known.
Eusebio Unzué said to Cyclingnews.com, "After three seasons of sponsorship and although Illes Balears has made it possible for us to step to this new level with our cycling team, we are waiting for a favorable answer to our proposal to continue our sponsorship beyond May. We would like to extend for the rest of the 2007 season."
Unzué values “3 Molinos Resort's very positive predisposition" towards signing, but emphasized that talks are still "in the beginning stages." Regarding his proposal to sign riders like Luis Leon Sanchez and Jose Joaquin Rojas, Unzué said, "we had been interested in these young riders," but he recognized that signing them could be a "complicated task." Both Sanchez and Rojas are still bound contractually to Manolo Sáiz, co-owner of Active Bay Sports. Sáiz was recently allowed to keep his ProTour team license.
Last week, potential sponsor 3 Molinos Resort properties held a secret meeting with the general manager of the Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears team, José Miguel Echavarri. The resort was hoping to reach an agreement that will bring them to the ProTour level and allow them to work with Alejandro Valverde, who is from the same region as the resort company.
