Movistar Team (Continental Team)

Movistar Team (Continental Team) (UCI Code MOT) was a Colombian UCI Continental cycling team.

Movistar Team

Team information
UCI code	MOT
Registered	Colombia
Founded	2011
Discipline(s)	Road
Status	Continental (2011-2012) National (2013-2014) UCI Continental (2015– )
Bicycles	Guerciotti
Key personnel
General manager	Libardo Leyton
Team name history
2011–2012 2013–2014 2015–2017	Movistar Continental Team Movistar Team América Movistar Team
Movistar Team (Continental Team) jersey Jersey

History

Creation

The team was set up in time for the 2011 season with Movistar sponsoring both the Continental team and Spanish UCI Pro Tour team to race in events on the UCI America Tour as well as those national events within its region.[1] The team is based in Bogotá, Colombia, and the management team is headed by former Colombian coach Libardo Leyton

On 2 June, the squad was presented officially and on 12 June and started the Tour of Colombia, where Byron Guama achieved the first official victory for the team.

Disappearance of the continental team

In two years the squad ran 7 races out of Colombia, being three in 2011 (Tour of Venezuela, Vuelta a Chiriquí and Tour of Costa Rica) and four in 2012 (Vuelta al Tachira Vuelta del Uruguay, Classic International Tulcán y Vuelta al Mundo Maya). Although the team's goal was be part of the principal races of the Latin American calendar, this could not be accomplished for different reasons;, organizational, logistical, legal as well as geographical. Therefore, in October 22, 2012 it was announced that the team would disband in 2013, with the last race that the team would participate in being the Vuelta al Mundo Maya.[2]

After the disappearance announced in January 2013, Movistar Colombia and Ecuador confirmed that they would unite forces to give continuity to the team but not linked to Movistar Team. With Bogota as the team's headquarters and Libardo Leyton as general manager. The team was not registered with the UCI, becoming amateur and contesting races only in Colombia and Ecuador.[3]

Resurgence of the continental team

For the 2015 season, the team now named Movistar Team, re-applied for UCI Continental status.[4] with a roster of 10 cyclists, including the world champion para-cyclist Álvaro Galvis.[5]

The team disbanded again after the 2017 season.

Doping

On 28 November 2017 news broke that Oscar Soliz had tested positive for CERA at the 2017 Vuelta a Colombia.[6]

Team roster

As of 26 December 2015.[7]

Rider Date of birth  Jaime Castaneda (COL) 29 October 1986  Wilson Cepeda (COL) 2 September 1989  Yuber Contreras (COL) 3 July 1994  Alvaro Duarte (COL) 12 January 1991  Alvaro Galvis (COL) 25 January 1970  Luis Miguel Martinez (COL) 30 June 1993  Omar Mendoza (COL) 25 November 1989

Rider Date of birth  Edwar Ortiz (COL) 8 December 1980  Brayan Ramírez (COL) 20 November 1992  Carlos Ramírez (COL) 26 October 1994  Edwin Sanchez (COL) 20 July 1981  Yors Santofimio (COL) 26 December 1995  Oscar Soliz (BOL) 19 January 1985  Cristian Talero (COL) 25 March 1990

Major wins

2011

Stages 2b & 6 Vuelta a Colombia, Byron Guamá

Stage 11 Vuelta a Colombia, Freddy González

Stages 2, 8b, 11 & 12 Vuelta a Venezuela, Marvin Angarita

Stage Vuelta a Venezuela, Marvin Angarita

Stages 5 (ITT) & 11 Vuelta Ciclista a Costa Rica, Gregory Brenes

Stage 12 Vuelta Ciclista a Costa Rica, Óscar Soliz

 Bolivia National Time Trial Championships, Óscar Soliz

 Colombia Under-23 National Road Race Championships, Marvin Angarita

2012

Stage 8 Vuelta a Colombia, Byron Guamá

Stage 1 Vuelta Mundo Maya, Gregory Brenes

Stage 2 Vuelta Mundo Maya, Byron Guamá

Stage 3 Vuelta Mundo Maya, Alejandro Serna Toro

Stage 6 Vuelta Mundo Maya, Freddy Montaña

 Bolivia National Time Trial Championships, Óscar Soliz

 Panama National Time Trial Championships, Ramon Carretero

2013

Stages 2 & 10 Vuelta a Colombia, Byron Guamá

Stage 11 Vuelta a Colombia, Freddy Montaña

Bolivarian Games ITT, Brayan Ramirez

2014

Central American and Caribbean Games ITT, Brayan Ramirez

 Bolivia National Time Trial Championships, Óscar Soliz

 Bolivia National Road Race Championships, Óscar Soliz

2015

 Bolivia National Time Trial Championships, Óscar Soliz

 Bolivia National Road Race Championships, Óscar Soliz

2016

 Colombia National Under-23 Time Trial Championships, Carlos Ramírez

 Bolivia National Time Trial Championships, Óscar Soliz

 Bolivia National Road Race Championships, Óscar Soliz

National champions

2011

Bolivian Time Trial Championship, Óscar Soliz

Colombian U23 Road Race Championship, Marvin Angarita

2012

Bolivian Time Trial Championship, Óscar Soliz

Panamanian Time Trial Championship, Ramon Carretero

2014

Bolivian Road Race Championship, Oscar Soliz

Bolivian Time Trial Championship, Óscar Soliz

2015

Bolivian Road Race Championship, Oscar Soliz

Bolivian Time Trial Championship, Óscar Soliz

2016

Bolivian Road Race Championship, Oscar Soliz

Bolivian Time Trial Championship, Óscar Soliz

Colombian U23 Time Trial Championship, Carlos Ramírez

References

1. Biciciclismo. "Biciciclismo.com: Web de referencia del ciclismo internacional en español". www.biciciclismo.com.
2. "El Movistar Team Continental se despide de las carreteras de América Latina en 2013". Movistar Team.
3. http://www.eltiempo.com/deportes/ciclismo/ARTICULO-WEB-NEW_NOTA_INTERIOR-12517501.html
4. Enrique_editor. "Colombia con tres equipos continentales UCI en el 2015". www.revistamundociclistico.com.
5. http://www.vanguardia.com/deportes/ciclismo/297932-santandereano-alvaro-galvis-hara-parte-del-movistar-team-america Santandereano Álvaro Galvis hará parte del Movistar Team América
6. "Eight riders test positive at Vuelta a Colombia - Cyclingnews.com".
7. "Movistar Team 2016". www.procyclingstats.com.

External links

• Official website