41 year old still without a team though as transfer season heads into its twilight hour

The career of 41 year old, Inigo Cuesta, seems close to its end unless a contract comes through in the latter moments of the transfer season. The rider, who has raced at the top level for seventeen seasons is still without a team heading into 2011, following the closing of the doors of the Cervelo TestTeam.

Cuesta, a native of Burgos, has raced the Vuelta a Espana in each and every one of his years as a professional, making seventeen consecutive years. To commemorate the record-setting feat, Cuesta was given race dossard number one for this year’s Vuelta.

Originally, the former Vuelta al Pais Vasco winner had planned to call 2010 his final year, but as the season went on, he felt better and better.

“I felt good at the end of the season, and I would like to race another year to say goodbye at the Vuelta a Espana,” said the Villarcayo native in a conversation with Biciciclismo.

Cuesta will have to wait though, because at the moment, he has no team, just some possibilities.

“Right now, there is nothing set up. There may be something. It is difficult, because it must be something I and something that motivates me. I’ll wait a bit.”

Team or not, Cuesta has resumed training just as he normally would. If a team signs him that fits his requirements, he’ll race, if not, then he’ll likely call it a career, and a career it has been.

“I’m very calm. I just finished my end of season break and started training again as I normally would, just in case. I want to be professional to the last moment. As usual, I start with the gym, do some walking, and ride my bike.”

Cuesta can count three major victories – the overall at the Tour of the Basque Country in 1998, a stage of the Dauphine in 2000, and a stage of the Volta a Catalunya in 2005.

The good friend of Carlos Sastre has raced professionally since 1994. He started his career with the Euskadi team, then moved to ONCE (1996-2000), followed by Cofidis (2001-2004), Saunier Duval for a year, CSC (2006-2008), and finally the Cervelo Test Team for the last two seasons.

Along with a mind boggling seventeen Vuelta starts, Cuesta has also ridden seven Tours de France, and three Giros.