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Comunitat Valenciana (cycling team)

Kelme
Team information
UCI code KEL
Registered Spain
Founded 1980 (1980)
Disbanded 2006 (2006)
Discipline Road
Team name history
1980–1981
1982
1983–1984
1985
1986–1989
1990–1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998–2003
2004
2005
2006
Kelme-Gios
Kelme-Merckx
Kelme
Kelme-Merckx
Kelme
Kelme-Ibexpress
Kelme-Don Cafe
Kelme-Xacobeo
Kelme-Avianca-Gios
Kelme-Sureña
Kelme-Artiach
Kelme-Costa Blanca-Eurosport
Kelme-Costa Blanca
Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme
Comunidad Valenciana-Elche
Comunidad Valenciana

Kelme was a professional cycling team based in Spain.

In 1979, Kelme sponsored the mountains classification in the Vuelta a España. The owners of Kelme were not satisfied with the publicity that this gave, so they decided to sponsor a cycling team instead.

The Kelme team was formed from another Spanish cycling team, named Transmallorca in 1980. From 2004 cycling season Valencian government took the main sponsorship, Kelme becoming co-sponsor, finally dropping from the team at the end of the year. Despite this, team kept on running, but its days were numbered when on 20 August 2006, because of doping allegations on Operacion Puerto, Valencian government dropped its sponsorship. This was to become the last year for the oldest team in the peloton. The last couple of years, it was managed by Vicente Belda, former cyclist who was riding for the team from 1980 to 1988. Famous former riders included Alejandro Valverde, Roberto Heras, Aitor González, Oscar Sevilla, Ángel Casero and Fernando Escartín. Team's major results include wins in the Vuelta a España 2 times: in 2000 by Roberto Heras and Aitor González back in 2002.

In March 2004 in an exclusive interview with the Spanish newspaper As, the former Kelme cyclist Jesús Manzano exposed the systematic doping in the team. During the interview he detailed blood doping as well as the various performance-enhancing drugs he used while on the team. Immediately the Kelme team denied the allegations and Jean-Marie Leblanc the director of the Tour de France was also sceptical about the allegations. After more detailed revelations, the Kelme team who had been invited to the 2004 Tour de France had their invite withdrawn.


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