Cycling: Balears court Mayo and Valverde

10/8/2004
Stymied by CV-Kelme's demands for two million euros in exchange for Alejandro Valverde, Illes Balears have cast an eye towards Iban Mayo.

PICTURE BY TIM DE WAELE

Paco Mancebo may just have recorded his best ever finish in a major tour by taking third place in the Vuelta, but his Illes Balears team seem determined to bring in another major name as a leader for the sport’s most important stage races. Up to now their focus has been on CV-Kelme’s Alejandro Valverde, but, according to today’s edition of Marca, they are also interested in Euskaltel’s Iban Mayo, who flopped so disastrously at the Tour this summer.