Kelme (cycling team)
| UCI code | KEL |
|---|---|
| Registered | Spain |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Disbanded | 2006 |
| Discipline | Road |
| 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 After more detailed revelations, the Kelme team who had been invited to the 2004 Tour de France had their invite withdrawn.
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