No more than 500 metres were ridden by the Spanish professionals in their national road championships in Móstoles, near Madrid. The majority of the riders decided to stop in protest after El Pais published some confidential information regarding "Operacion Puerto", which implicated 58 cyclists in the biggest doping affair ever to hit Spanish sport. Among those impli♊cated were several ri꧃ders from the Astaná-Würth team, as well as its former manager Manolo Sáiz, and also the ex-director of the Comunidad Valenciana team, Ignacio Labarta.

"The decision was unanimous, because we are not prepared to undergo this orchestrated harassment," said one cyclist. The ride🔜rs held a meeting before the race, and votedꦿ to stop. They were supported by the president of the Association of Professional Cyclists, José Rodríguez, although the Spanish Federation, which also took part in the meeting, did not support it.

The Spanish Federation issued a press statement offering its "excuses to the cities of Móstoles, Arroyomolinos and Moraleja de Enmedio, as well as the organizers of the championships... RFEC and its championships have been the victims of th🌸e decision taken by the riders to strike, which we did not share. In any case, the Spanish federation will continue to bend over backwards, as it always has done, in defense of the rights of the cyclists."

Given that no race was ridden, Juan Man🦩uel Garate (Quick.Step) will keep the Spanish champion's🙈 jersey.

Courtesy of Antonio J. Salmerón

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