Spanish rider Rodrigo García has blasted the Miche-Silver Cross team with whom he raced in 2009. The 29 year old Spaniard claims that he has received just one quarter of his wages from the squad, and has made an official complaint to the CPA, the Association of Professional Cyclists.
Miche-Silver Cross has applied for Continental registration for 2010 but if it is shown that the San Marino team has failed to pay other riders, it is likely that this will land it in hot water with the UCI.
“The truth is that when I signed with this team I did it with much illusions, because it was going to have a new calendar and a different type of cycling, but the reality has been very different,” said García. “From the beginning they were delayed in their payment of the monthly instalments, and at the end of the season I have only acquired three months of the twelve of the contract.”
García was one of the best-performing riders for the team in 2009, finishing eighth overall in the Tour of Slovakia and tenth in the Tour of Sardinia. He also took top-ten stage placings in both races. Back in 2007 he won two stages of the Vuelta a Asturias, and looked set to continue to progress in cycling. However he faced a possible end to his career last year when the Extremadura – Spiuk team collapse.
García was picked up by Miche-Silver Cross team but is clearly unimpressed by his time with the squad. He hopes that the CPA complaint will lead to some satisfaction. “I have not had any other option than to denounce the contract, because I have not obtained any explanation to the non-payment of the same”, he said.
He will compete with the Xacobeo-Galicia team in 2010. He expected to be in the running for big events such as the Vuelta a España, but the team has missed out on the original registration for Professional Continental teams. It appealed to the UCI this week and will put forth arguments as to why it should be allowed retain a licence of that level.