Kelme (cycling team)
# Kelme (cycling team)

Kelme was a professional cycling team based in Spain.

## History

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

The Kelme team was formed from another Spanish cycling team, Transmallorca, in 1980. From the 2004 cycling season, the Valencian government took the main sponsorship, Kelme becoming co-sponsor, finally dropping from the team at the end of the year. Despite this, the team kept on running, but its days were numbered when on 20 August 2006, because of doping allegations on Operación Puerto, the 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, a former cyclist who rode for the team from 1980 to 1988. Famous former riders included Alejandro Valverde, Roberto Heras, Aitor González, Óscar Sevilla, Ángel Casero, and Fernando Escartín. The team's major results include two wins in the Vuelta a España: by Roberto Heras in 2000 and Aitor González in 2002.

## Doping controversy

In March 2004, in an 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 After more detailed revelations, the Kelme team who had been invited to the 2004 Tour de France had their invitation withdrawn.

The subsequent investigation into Manzano's doping activities and the allegations he made led to the questioning of several members of the Kelme team in April 2004. These included Eufemiano Fuentes, who was at that time the Kelme team doctor; Walter Virú, the previous team doctor; and Alfredo Córdova, who was working for Liberty Seguros but had been involved with Kelme in 2003.

An investigation began into the practises of Fuentes in early 2006 by Central Operating Unit, the anti-drug trafficking arm of the Spanish Guardia Civil. In May 2006, several arrests were made. Manzano's statements had led directly to the development of this investigation. In June 2007 Manzano claimed that Alejandro Valverde doped with testosterone during the 2002 Vuelta a España.

## Major wins

### 1980

    Circuito de Getxo, Felipe Yáñez de la Torre
    GP Llodio, Felipe Yáñez de la Torre
    Stage 6, Vuelta a Cantabria, Francisco Ramon Albelda

### 1981

    Stage 11 Vuelta a España, Jesús Suárez
    Memorial Manuel Galera, Juan Fernández
    Memoria Santi Andia, Jesús Suárez
    2 stages Vuelta a Aragón
    Stage 2, Vuelta Asturias, Jesús Suárez
    Stage 5, Vuelta a Cantabria, Jesús Suárez
    Stage 1, Deutschland Tour, Juan Fernández

### 1982

    Stage 7, Vuelta a España, Enrique Martinez
    Memorial Manuel Galera, Jesús Delgado
    Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama, Vicente Belda
    Overall and 1 stage, Vuelta Asturias
    Overall and prologue, Costa del Azahar
    Madrid six days
    Stage 4, Tour of the Basque Country

### 1983

    Memorial Manuel Galera, Jesús Delgado
    Subida al Naranco, Vicente Belda
    Alqueiras, Francisco Ramon Albelda
    Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia, José Recio
    Stage 3, Vuelta a La Rioja, Miguel Guerrero

### 1984

    Subida a Urkiola, Vicente Belda
    Subida al Naranco, Vicente Belda
    Stage 6b, Vuelta Asturias, Miguel Angel Guerrero

### 1985

    Overall, Vuelta a Murcia, José Recio
    Subida al Naranco, José-Alirio Chizabas
    Circuito de Getxo, Antonio Esparza
    Bages, Miguel Angel Guerrero
    Segovia, Miguel Angel Guerrero

### 1986

    Subida a Urkiola, Oscar J. Vargas

### 1987

    Memorial Manuel Galera, Juan Martinéz

### 1988

    Stage 4, Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme, Jaime Vilamajo

### 1989

    Stage 3, Vuelta a Murcia, Juan Martinéz

### 1990

    Mountains classification, 1990 Vuelta a España

### 1991

    Stage 2, Vuelta a los valles Mineros

### 1992

    Memorial Manuel Galera, Francisco Cabello
    GP Llodio, Ángel Edo
    Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama, Oswaldo Mora
    Russia Road Race championship
    Stage 6, Criterium du Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

### 1993

    Spain Road Race championship
    Trofeo Mallorca, Asiat Saitov

### 1994

    Overall, Challenge Mallorca, Francisco Cabello
    Trofeo Masferrer, Ángel Edo
    Trofeo Soller, Ángel Edo
    GP Llodio, Asiat Saitov
    Stage 1, Vuelta a Andalucía Vuelta a Andalucía, Ángel Edo
    Stage 4, Route du Sud, Asiat Saitov

### 1995

    Memorial Manuel Galera, Ignacio Garcia Camacho
    Overall and 3 stages, Vuelta a Colombia
    Stage 3, Vuelta an Andalucía, Ruta del Sol, Francisco Cabello

### 1996

    Overall, Challenge Mallorca, Francisco Cabello
    Trofeo Soller, Francisco Cabello
    Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama, Fernando Escartín
    Stage 13, Vuelta a Colombia, Julio Cabrera
    Stage 3, Vuelta a Castilla y León, Mariano Moreda
    Stage 2, Vuelta Asturias, Mariano Moreda

### 1997

    Stage 12, Vuelta a España, Roberto Heras
    Overall and 1 stage, Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme
    Overall, Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, Juan Carlos Domínguez
    Overall and 2 stages, Vuelta a Murcia
    Overall and 1 stage, Volta a Catalunya
    Subida al Naranco, Roberto Heras
    Stage 2, Vuelta Asturias, Fernando Escartín

### 1998

    Klasika Primavera, Roberto Heras
    Subida al Naranco, José-Luis Rubiera
    Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama, Marcos Serrano
    Stage 8, Volta a Catalunya, Fernando Escartín
    Stage 1, Vuelta a Aragón, Fernando Escartín

### 1999

    Overall and 1 stage, Vuelta an Andalucía, Ruta del Sol
    Klasika Primavera, Roberto Heras
    Trofeo Calvià, Francisco Cabello
    Castillon-la-Bataille, Fernando Escartín
    Stage 5, Paris–Nice, Santiago Botero
    Stage 4, Tour de Romandie, Óscar Sevilla
    2 stages Euskal Bizikleta
    2 stages, Vuelta a Murcia
    2 stages, Vuelta Asturias
    Stage 4, Vuelta a Aragón, Eduardo Hernandez
    Stage 6, Volta a Catalunya, Roberto Heras

### 2000

    Overall and 2 stages, 2000 Vuelta a España
    2 stages and Mountains Classification 2000 Tour de France
    Stage 13, Giro d'Italia, José-Luis Rubiera
    Overall, Challenge Mallorca, Francisco Cabello
    Trofeo Antratx, Francisco Cabello
    Clásica de Almería, Isaac Gálvez
    Six Jours de Grenoble, Isaac Gálvez
    Critérium Foral de Navarra, Roberto Heras
    Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia, Javier Otxoa
    Subida al Naranco, José-Luis Rubiera
    Memorial Manuel Galera, Óscar Sevilla
    Trofeo Luis Ocaña, Óscar Sevilla
    Stage 2, Vuelta a Murcia, Francisco Cabello
    Stage 3, Tour du Limousin, Aitor González
    Stage 4, Tour du Limousin, Félix Cárdenas
    Stage 2, Volta ao Algarve, Aitor González
    2 stages, Vuelta a la Communidad Valenciana

### 2001

    1 stage and Young rider classification Tour de France
    Overall and 2 stages Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia
    Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama, Santiago Botero Echeverry
    Clásica de Sabiñánigo, Angel Vicioso Arcos
    GP Miguel Induráin, Angel Vicioso Arcos
    GP Llodio, Juan José de los Ángeles Segui
    2 stages Tour de l'Avenir
    Stage 2 GP Mosqueteiros – Rota do Marquês, Marina Grande, Isaac Gálvez Lopez
    Stage 2 Volta ao Alentejo, Grandola, Isaac Gálvez Lopez
    Stage 4 Volta ao Alentejo, Alandroal, Angel Vicioso Arcos
    Stage 1b Vuelta a Castilla y León, El Espinar, Javier Pascual Llorente
    Stage 5 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Alto del Redondal, Javier Pascual Llorente
    Stage 1 Volta a Portugal, Odivelas, Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez
    Stage 6 Circuito Montañés, Torrelavega, Eligio Requeio Dominguez

### 2002

    2 stages 2002 Tour de France, Santiago Botero
    2 stages Giro d'Italia
    1st overall 2002 Vuelta a España, Aitor González Jimenez
    World Time Trial championships, Botero
    1st overall Challenge Mallorca, Francisco Cabello
    Trofeo Mallorca, Isaac Gálvez Lopez
    Valencia, Óscar Sevilla Ribera
    GP Miguel Induráin, Angel Vicioso Arcos
    Klasika Primavera, Angel Vicioso Arcos
    Stage 3 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Pierrelatte, Santiago Botero Echeverry
    Stage 7 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Genève, José Enrique Gutiérrez Cataluña
    Trofeo de Palma, Palma, Isaac Gálvez Lopez
    Classique des Alpes, Santiago Botero Echeverry
    Profronde van Pijnacker, Santiago Botero Echeverry
    Profronde van Surhuisterveen, Santiago Botero Echeverry
    Stage 7 Volta a Portugal, Alcobaça, David Muñoz Bañón
    Stage 8 Volta a Portugal, Castelo Branco, Alexis Rodriguez Hernandez

### 2003

    1st 2 stages, Combination classification 2003 Vuelta a España
    1st overall Challenge Mallorca, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
    Trofeo Mallorca, Palma, Isaac Gálvez Lopez
    1st overall and 2 stages Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia, Javier Pascual Llorente
    Criterium Valencia, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
    Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
    Circuito de Getxo, Roberto Lozano Montero
    Trofeo Alcudia, Porto Cristo, Isaac Gálvez Lopez
    Stage 4a Troféu Joaquim Agostinho, Ribemar, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
    Stage 5a Troféu Joaquim Agostinho, Ribemar, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
    Stage 3 Vuelta an Andalucía, Ruta del Sol, Altro Ntra. Sra.de Araceli, Lucena, Javier Pascual Llorente
    Stage 4 Volta a Catalunya, Llívia, Jesus Maria Manzano Ruano
    Stage 3 Vuelta Ciclista an Aragón, Illueca, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
    Stage 3 Tour of the Basque Country, Vitoria, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte

### 2004

    4 stages 2004 Vuelta a España
    1st overall and 2 stages, Vuelta Ciclista a la Communidad Valenciana
    1st overall Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia
    1st overall and 3 stages Vuelta Ciclista a Burgos
    1st overall and 2 stages GP Estremadura – RTP
    Trofeo Manacor
    Klasika Primavera
    2 stages Tour of the Basque Country
    3 stages Vuelta a Castilla y León
    Stage 5 Troféu Joaquim Agostinho
    Stage 4a Vuelta de la Paz
    Stage 4 Clásica de Fusagasugá, Circuit Fusagasuga, Iván Ramiro Parra Pinto
    2 stages Volta a Portugal

### 2005

    3 stages 2005 Vuelta a España
    1st overall and 1 stage Vuelta a Andalucía
    1st overall Vuelta a Asturias
    Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia
    1st overall and 2 stages Vuelta a Castilla y León
    1st overall and 1 stage Vuelta Ciclista a la Rioja
    1st overall and 1 stage Euskal Bizikleta
    Mountains classification Tour of the Basque Country
    GP Miguel Induráin
    1st overall and 1 stage GP Internacional Costa Azul
    1st overall and 1 stage Vuelta a Aragón
    Stage 8 Volta a Portugal
    Stage 2 Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia

### 2006

    1st overall Challenge Mallorca
    1st overall and 2 stages, Volta a Portugal
    Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama
    2 stages Troféu Joaquim Agostinho
    Stage 2 Vuelta a Andalucía
    Stage 3 Giro del Trentino
    Stage 5 Vuelta a Asturias
    Trofeo Pollença
