With the 2009 cycle road racing season about to heat up in Europe with the Spring Classics imminent, here is the low down on Team Caisse d'Epargne.
Who are Team Caisse d'Epargne?
Team Caisse d'Epargne have their roots in Spain but the title sponsor is a French bank. Other sponsors include Pinarello who provide bike frames, Volvo, Campagnolo and Hugo Boss.
The team's General Manager is Eusebio Unzue, supported by the following Director Sportives:
José Luis Jaimerena, Alfonso Galilea, Yvon Ledanos and Neil Stephens.
Who are Team Caisse d'Epargne's Riders?
The team is centred around Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde who has undergone something of a reinvention in recent years.
Valverde came to prominence in 2005 when he won a mountain stage at the Tour de France, beating Lance Armstrong at the summit of the climb to Courchevel. It was thought that here was a rider who would one day go on to win the biggest prize in cycling.
So far at least, this hasn't been the case and Valverde has developed into more of a Classics and short Tour specialist.
Other riders on the roster include Luis Leon Sanchez and former Tour de France winner Oscar Pereiro who won the 2006 edition of the race after the disqualification of Floyd Landis.
Team Caisse d'Epargne's full roster:
Amador, Andrey; Arroyo, David; Charteau, Anthony; Costa, Rui; Coyot, Arnaud; Drujon, Mathieu; Erviti, Imanol; Garcia Acosta, Jose Vicente; Gutierrez, Jose Ivan; Jeannesson, Arnold; Kiryienka, Vasil; Lastras, Pablo; Lopez, David; Losada, Alberto; Madrazo, Angel; Moreno, Daniel; Pasamontes, Luis; Perez, Marlon; Perez, Francisco; Periero, Oscar; Perget, Mathieu; Portal, Nicolas; Rodriquez, Joaquin; Rojas, Jose Joaquin; Sanchez, Luis Leon; Uran, Rigoberto; Valverde, Alejandro; Zandio, Xabier.
How Did Team Caisse d'Epargne Perform in 2008?
The team took 24 wins in 2008 but essentially Caisse d'Epargne is all about Alejandro Valverde and by far the biggest wins of the year came from him. Victories in both the one day classic Liege-Bastogne-Liege and one of the most respected week long tours the Dauphine Libere sealed Valverde's pedigree as an all round rider.
He gave the team stage victories and high overall placings in both grand tours he took part in – the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, without ever looking like he was going to trouble the leaders.
Sanchez took a stage in the Tour as well and won Olympic Gold in Spain's National jersey.
What Are the Targets for Caisse d'Epargne in 2009?
One the team's major aims for this year could well be to finally get the monkey off the back of its star rider that is Operacion Puerto. Rumours of alleged links between Valverde and the investigation into doping practices carried out in a Spanish clinic have resurfaced with the Italian authorities now carrying out their own investigation. For his part Valverde has consistently denied any involvement.
If he can remain focused, Valverde will again be strong in the Classics and in all probability will finish on the podium, if not win, at least one of them. Expect another strong performance at the Tour although overall victory is probably beyond him and a podium placing in the Vuelta.
Beyond Valverde it is difficult to see any significant results coming from any of Caisse d'Epargne's riders.
References
Cycle Sport Magazine, April 2009
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