Caisse d’Epargne’s Oscar Pereiro is ready to move on to a new team for 2010. The 32-year-old admitted he had contacts with Xacobeo Galicia, from northwestern Spain. But there were no serious negotiations yet, the 2006 Tour de France winner told Spanish media outlet farodevigo.es.
The team is not too hopeful to be able to pull off the deal, due to the economic crisis, but Pereiro wasn’t worried about the money alone. “Sometimes you read it’s not economically viable, but that won’t be the problem.”
Pereiro added that he has offers from foreign teams, but that he is really intrigued by ending his career in Spain. “I know I have only a few years left – I don’t know if it’s one or two. It would be a real pleasure for me as gallego [someone from Galicia -ed.] to end my career with this team.”
Pereiro went as far as saying that “I know I am expensive, but I don’t mind riding for free next year… I just want to enjoy life.” This further indicates that the Spaniard will stay in his home country for the eve of his career. More seriously, he added that he is definitely willing to negotiate a lower price tag. “If I am riding for a domestic team, it would be much easier to come to an agreement.”
Adios a Caisse d’Epargne
Pereiro is leaving Caisse d’Epargne after four years for a simple reason. He wants to close out his career looking out for his own victories. Since winning the Tour in controversial circumstances, he was mostly a support rider for Alejandro Valverde.
Pereiro would be the major rider next to Ezequiel Mosquera, who finished in the top five in the last three editions of the Vuelta a España. There won’t be any problems getting used to the team. “I have known these guys for the last 15-20 years,” Pereiro said.
He admitted that participating at the Tour would be difficult for the small Galician outfit. “But it’s possible. They’d have to change a few things. Currently they are far from pulling it off, but they could manage.” Pereiro indicated that his signing could help in this quest.
The Spaniard expects a decision within the next 15-20 days. He also said that he put his sudden, early season ending during the Tour de France behind him. “The problem was more mental than physical. The chronic fatigue is gone, but the talk about my retiring from the Tour and other things have influenced me.”