The new name of the Tavira Cycling Club's professional team will be Carmim Prio Tavira, thus confirming the importance given to the new sponsor, a well-known Alentejo wine and olive oil brand.
But the return of David Blanco, widely aired in recent weeks, will not happen.
Luís Constantino, the president of the CCT, took advantage of the press conference this Thursday, to publicly state that it is always the direction of the Club, with the support of the sports director Vidal Fitas, who decides the team. “It's not the media! It's us, and we try to make decisions with our feet on the ground, with the right financial conditions, and not in dreams…”
The connection of the Reguengos de Monsaraz brand (which already supports SC Olhanense) to the CCT was presented as an innovative partnership and something 'sui generis', of profit sharing and not just a summary of sponsorship.
Even so, both players repeated their mutual expectations for common benefits, and the CCT's professional team will have a say in the increase in sales of the Alentejo brand's products.
In particular the «Monsaraz Millenium» wines, associated with the social and humanist responsibility project «Let's help people!», and also the olive oil «Monsaraz», which is launching a sports responsibility project, with partnerships and a space for the Algarve cycling.
Thus, 10% of the revenue from the sales of «Monsaraz Millenium» wine and «Monsaraz» olive oil will be, in short, Carmim's support to the CCT, whenever the Club is involved in the marketing effort.
Therefore, said José Canita, general director of Carmim, “at this moment, we do not invest anything in Carmim Prio Tavira. We found a partner for our project and from now on we will work together. And so, among the people we want and are going to help, there are these young people who want to succeed and win in sport”.
He concluded by stating: “With this partnership, Carmim Prio Tavira can earn a lot of money, and the limit is the sky, or it may not. But both (Me and Luís Constantino), we are sure that he will win.”
Jorge Botelho, Mayor of Tavira, with a smile, did not fail to congratulate José Canita, openly praising his “knack for business!”.
Reinforcements and “land” cyclists
At the press conference, the three reinforcements of the team were also made public, for the coming season: the return of the Galician Alejandro Marque (30 years old), who between 2008 and 2010 was part of the Algarve team, in 2011 joined by Boavista wave and return again to Tavira.
Two young professionals will also join the team: the Algarve Amaro Antunes, pointed out as one of the promises of national cycling, and Valter Pereira, trained in the CCT schools.
The latter represented the Loulé team last season, on loan, and will now have an opportunity to join the professional team of Carmim Prio Tavira.
Luís Constantino, when introducing these two new young cyclists, did not fail to reinforce the pride of the CCT in continuing to be a “land” team, with “land” cyclists.
This pride, by the way, is also synonymous with hope. The president of the CCT made it clear that the 'dossier' David Blanco is practically closed, but he did not refrain from saying: “I believe we will continue to win. We have Ricardo Mestre with us and we have every confidence in him!”
The sponsorship of Turismo do Algarve was once again a topic of conversation, after the “it says that it works and after all it doesn't” in 2011.
Luís Constantino and also the mayor of Tavira deplored the expectations created and then frustrated, showing that there is still total openness for the CCT's professional team to carry the logo of the Algarve, as a region of high tourist value.
Jorge Botelho also made it clear that the municipality will continue to support, albeit with a slightly smaller budget, given the current circumstances, and that institutional involvement is maximum, as he is convinced of the importance of the CCT for the dissemination of the municipality's name. .
The president of the CCT ended the press conference by disclosing that the budget for the professional team, in 2012, will only be in the order of 350.000 euros, around half of the amounts achieved in previous seasons.
Reinforcements:
Alejandro Marque now he is back in the Tavirense team after in 2008, 2009 and 2010 he already wore the colors of the Algarve team. Remarkable time trial and roller, he is an excellent worker for the team. Currently 30 years old, Marque was a key element in the group's Volta a Portugal victories.
Amaro Antunes, born in Vila Real de Santo António, rose to professionalism last season, and is currently 21 years old, has several victories in his record. During his passage in the youth teams, he became famous in Time Trials and in the mountain stages. In 2011, he made a name for himself by winning one of the competitions in the international Cup of Nations competition, at the service of the national under23 team.
Valter Pereira he is 21 years old and comes from the youth of the Tavira Cycling Club. This reinforcement is in line with the policy of this community, which involves attracting new talent from the land. A promising young man, he was discovered in mountain biking competitions and reveals abilities in mountain stages. In the previous season, he played for the under 23 team at Louletano, and this year he ascends to professionalism.
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