Movistar Team (Continental Team)
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| UCI code | MOT |
|---|---|
| Registered | Colombia |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Discipline | Road |
| Status | Continental (2011-2012) National (2013-2014) UCI Continental (2015– ) |
| Bicycles | Guerciotti |
| General manager | Libardo Leyton |
| 2011–2012 2013–2014 2015- |
Movistar Continental Team Movistar Team América Movistar Team |
Movistar Team (Continental Team) (UCI Code MOT) is a Colombian-based UCI Continental cycling team .
Created for the 2011 season, as a subsidiary of the Movistar Team, a Spanish team of UCI ProTour status.
The telephone company, as the new sponsor of the Spanish team, decided because of commercial interests in Latin America, to create a continental team, since virtually they could not compete in America. Because the rules regarding categories UCI ProTour teams can only compete in races that are category 1 or. HC (Tour de San Luis, Tour of California, Philadelphia International Championship, Quebec Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Montreal)
With the creation of continental team they have access to all other races as most international races in South and Central America are category 2.2.
The team is based in Bogotá, Colombia, and the management team is headed by former Colombian coach Libardo Leyton while responsible for the medical part is a former professional rider Alvaro Mejía.
It had the same infrastructure, both technical and human, its European counterpart and most of the staff of cyclists from Colombia. Above all aimed at young cyclists although experientes. According to the Director General Eusebio Unzue, the team's goal was subsidiary to participate in all races of the UCI America Tour where the company is present and at the same time attract young talent to promote to the ProTour team.
Just created the team, the UCI released a fictional ranking by which race organizers (so .HC, as .1 and .2) should invited the 3 best teams of their continent. As the Movistar Team Continental at the time was number one on the American ranking in spite of not debuted yet (because the computed points of their hired cyclists) they had secured the participation in all racing UCI America Tour 2011, but the team saw its debut delayed due to the formalities for entering the material cycling in Colombia.
In early May, the team concentrated for the first time and ran their first race, the Clasico de Girardota, won by Marvin Angarita. Then the team made their official debut in the Tour of Antioquia, where Oscar Soliz was the best placed in overall in the 10th position.
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