MAYBE, here's the latest news:

The ongoing saga of Kelme’s descent from the summit of the sport should – in theory – be completed today (Thursday) when the UCI closes the application process for teams wanting to enter the sport’s second division. On Tuesday Kelme team boss Pepe Quiles turned down the Comunidad Valenciana’s offers to take over the running of the team in exchange for Quiles taking on an honourary role, although there were further negotiations between the two sides during most of Wednesday. It now remains to be seen whether Quiles can now provide the financial guarantees that prevented his team being accepted into the first division by the UCI last week.

While Kelme’s future remains clouded, star rider Alejandro Valverde has taken the first steps to cement his immediate objective of guaranteed access to all of the World Cup events by travelling to Italy with his agent on Wednesday to speak to Saeco. Although he is not speaking to the press, Valverde is believed to have spoken to Quiles earlier this week before further investigating offers he has received from other teams.

Liberty Seguros seem to be out of the running having assigned all of their available transfer budget for the season to bringing in Roberto Heras from US Postal. Liberty team manager Manolo Saiz indicated earlier in the week that he would need to find a new backer to be able to afford Valverde’s wage demands of 1m euros a season. If Quiles is unable to lodge a guarantee of 25% of his team’s budget with the UCI today, Valverde is contractually free to sign with another team.


http://www.procycling.com/news_main.asp?newsId=4861

wow, would be quite a coup for Saeco. he's a rising star and a major talent. can climb, sprint and is good in both one day races and GT's. thanx for the update

Wow, I didn't even realize that Kelme was in danger of not obtaining registration as Div 2. That would be very hard on the riders and support staff (except fo Valverde).

would be sad as Kelme is the longest standing sponsor of pro cycling

Awesome if true. Who else would be available? fire-Sale!!! If this is the case, will he ride the giro? Competition for Simoni? Doubtful, but from what little I've seen of he guy, he looks like a capable contender, huh?

if he goes to Saeco I 'll asume they'll do a USPS and have Simoni for thr Giro (maybe Tour) and Valverde riding support, but allow Valverde to captain the Vuelta. good for them, C-Dale needs a good Spanish Star after losing Astarloa. With his abitity to climb and sprint he seems best suited to the classics IMHO.

Would Saeco change their Tour/Giro ambitions if they had a super-domestique? Which would be of greater value to an Italian team? Yet another Giro win, or a Tour win?

Thoughts?

BT

I think Giro will still be #1 for Simoni and Saeco. He stands a much better chance of repeating there than winning the Tour. The Tour is harder (look at av. speeds etc..) they push a harder pace in the Tour and they are usually for greater distances. In the Giro some Mtn. stages really don't start racing until the climb. Pace through the flats is a little more leisurely. I also don't think Simoni has the 'whole package' to be a contender in the Tour yet. He spoke a big game last year and was severly humbled. Saeco is already doing prep work for Giro on certain stages so I gotta assume it's their #1 goal.

I think Giro will still be #1 for Simoni and Saeco. He stands a much better chance of repeating there than winning the Tour. The Tour is harder (look at av. speeds etc..) they push a harder pace in the Tour and they are usually for greater distances. In the Giro some Mtn. stages really don't start racing until the climb. Pace through the flats is a little more leisurely. I also don't think Simoni has the 'whole package' to be a contender in the Tour yet. He spoke a big game last year and was severly humbled. Saeco is already doing prep work for Giro on certain stages so I gotta assume it's their #1 goal.

junkie is right on both accounts hard to imagine any Italian team choose Tour over Giro, Giro will be always #1. With respect to racing in Italy the friend of mine did amatour races and went to watch pro races while he lived over there for 3 years. They traditionally don't start racing 'till last few km, flat or not.