Caja Rural–Seguros RGA

Caja Rural–Seguros RGA (UCI team code: CJR) is a professional continental cycling team sponsored principally by Grupo Caja Rural, a Spanish banking group. The team participates in UCI Europe Tour races and UCI World Tour events when given a wildcard invitation. The team's administrative offices and management are based in Pamplona, Navarra, Spain, but its service course (workshop and warehouse facility) is in Alsasua, Navarra.[1] It was announced in February 2013 that the team had acquired a co-sponsor in a subsidiary of Caja Rural and would become known as Caja Rural–Seguros RGA from 21 February 2013.[2]

For the cycling team known as Caja Rural between 1987 and 1989, see Artiach (cycling team).

Caja Rural–Seguros RGA

Team information
UCI code	CJR
Registered	Spain
Founded	2010 (2010)
Discipline(s)	Road
Status	UCI Professional Continental
Bicycles	ViVELO (2012–2014) Fuji (2015–2017) De Rosa (2018-)
Website	Team home page
Key personnel
General manager	José Manuel Hernández
Team manager(s)	Eugenio Goikoetxea
Team name history
2010–Feb 2013 Feb 2013–	Caja Rural Caja Rural–Seguros RGA
Caja Rural–Seguros RGA jersey Jersey

History

Caja Rural re-entered professional cycling in the 2010 season. In late 2009, Caja Rural decided to move back to the professional peloton, forming a UCI Continental Team (competing in the Europe UCI Continental Circuits) that among other things would give continuity to their under 23 and elite amateur teams. In 2010, its first year returning as a professional team, the team's total budget was €837,932.[3] The original squad was made up of 16 riders, of whom 5 had come up from the amateur team. During the season, 4 members of the amateur team turned professional, 3 of them joining Caja Rural and one moving to Movistar.[4]

On October 19, 2010, Juanikorena Iñaki signed a contract with Preventia Sports Club (Club Deportivo Preventia), who manage the Caja Rural professional team, to continue as the team's Directeur Sportif in 2011. However, on 14 December 2010, he announced his departure due to major professional differences over approaches to training ("importantes diferencias en los criterios técnicos-deportivos").[5] Iñaki was replaced by Mikel Azparren. At the end of January 2011, Iñaki brought a lawsuit against the team in the Civil Court (Juzgado de los Social) of Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.[6] Iñaki proved breach of contract in his suit. The team's appeal to the Superior Court (Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Navarra) was dismissed on July 25, 2012, and the UCI made full payment of his salary for 2011, drawing from the team's bank guaranty held by the UCI.[7]

In 2011, Caja Rural advanced to the UCI Professional Continental category with a view to competing in top level racing, especially the 2011 Vuelta a España, the first Vuelta in 33 years to visit the Basque Country. On its début as a UCI Professional Continental team, Caja Rural adopted the motto: "un equipo para creer, un equipo para crecer" ("a team to believe in, a team for growth"). The team emphasizes that "growth" in the latter part of this motto is meant to connote not only the growth of the squad, but also the growth of athletes as individuals, in particular amateur athletes making the leap to the professional ranks.[3] In August 2011, Caja Rural rider Fabricio Ferrari won the overall Mountains Classification in the Volta a Portugal and the Young Rider Classification went to Garikoitz "Gari" Bravo.[8] The team did not compete in the 2011 Vuelta a España, but was named the Best Navarro Sports Team in 2011 by the Government of Navarra.[9]

Caja Rural was invited to participate in the 2012 Vuelta a España, which departed from Pamplona where the team is based. The 2012 Vuelta saw Caja Rural rider Antonio Piedra, take Stage 15, a high mountain affair finishing atop the Lakes of Covadonga climb. Piedra dropped his breakaway companions on the first "Hors Category" climb of the Vuelta, and finished with 2 minutes and 2 seconds advantage over his nearest competitor.[10][11] The team's enthusiasm for competition in their Vuelta début was highlighted by a heartbreaking episode in the 4th stage. Marcos García valiantly fought to the head of the peloton, sprinted to the finish line and threw kisses to the crowd as he crossed it triumphantly. However, owing to miscommunication with the team car, he was unaware that three escapees had crossed the line before him.[12]

David Arroyo of the Movistar Team who placed second in the 2010 Giro d'Italia and Amets Txurruka who rode for Euskaltel–Euskadi and took first in the Young Riders Classification at the 2007 Tour de France joined Caja Rural in the 2013 season. These two experienced riders have participated in 25 Grand Tours.[13] After a change of management in the 2012 season and in an effort to retain its UCI World Tour license, Euskaltel–Euskadi began including more riders from outside the Basque Country who hold high UCI World Tour rankings. Caja Rural has been a beneficiary of this policy picking up Txurruka and Iván Velasco from Euskaltel–Euskadi, but the team also lost the promising young cyclist Garikoitz Bravo to Euskaltel–Euskadi at the same time.[14]

On 21 February 2013, the team's name changed to "Caja Rural-Seguros RGA".[2][15] Two days later Antonio Piedra took the first podium for the newly renamed team by winning the Mountains Classification in the Vuelta a Murcia, part of the UCI Europe Tour.[16] The first General Classification victory for the newly badged team was won by Francesco Lasca on 31 March 2013 in the Vuelta a La Rioja.[17] Caja Rural–Seguros RGA rider Javier Aramendia won the Overall Combativity Award at the 2013 Vuelta a España after he and his teammates Antonio Piedra, David Arroyo and Fabricio Ferrari took 7 of the 20 stage Combativity Awards given during the race.

Sponsorship

The professional team's principal sponsor is Grupo Caja Rural, a savings bank and agricultural credit cooperative in Spain with 3,600 branches.

On 21 February 2013, Caja Rural added a new co-sponsor Seguros RGA.[2][15] Seguros RGA (meaning "Insurance RGA") was founded on 17 March 1986 as the insurance subsidiary of Grupo Caja Rural.[18] The "Seguros RGA" name and logo were added to new team jerseys and all other media.[15] Seguros RGA had supported the team in its bid to compete in the 2012 Vuelta a España and was featured on Vuelta team jerseys. Seguros RGA was so impressed with the profile and performance of the team that they decided to step forward as a team co-sponsor.[19]

Team Car at the 2010 Volta a Portugal

Škoda Auto provides sponsorship and team cars. Euskorot, a Basque Country graphics company, supplies the team car livery.[20]

Team bikes for the 2015 and 2016 seasons are supplied by Fuji Bikes models Transonic, Altamira and Norcom Straight.[21] From the 2012 to the 2014 season, the team had ridden Bulgarian brand bicycles ViVELO.

From the 2015 season, team kit is supplied by Italian clothing brand ALÉ,[21] replacing Inverse–CIRO SPORT from the previous several seasons. Spiuk supplies the team's helmets and glasses.

From the 2016 season, the powermeters and computers are supplied by Pioneer replacing Rotor

Bed4u Hotels added its sponsorship in January 2013 offering the team lodging.[22] Bed4u replaced Playitas, a Canary Islands sports resort where the team trained in the winter of 2012,[23] on team jerseys.

Centro Médico Vitasport (Vitasport Medical Centre), an advanced technology athletic training centre for professional and amateur athletes is a sponsor and also the registered office of Club Deportivo Preventia, the organization that runs the team.[20][24]

Team roster

As of 6 January 2020.[25][26]

Rider Date of birth  Jon Aberasturi (ESP) (1989-03-28) 28 March 1989  Julen Amezqueta (ESP) (1993-08-12) 12 August 1993  Orluis Aular (VEN) (1996-11-05) 5 November 1996  Aritz Bagües (ESP) (1989-08-19) 19 August 1989  Juan Fernando Calle (COL) (1999-07-18) 18 July 1999  Xavier Cañellas (ESP) (1997-03-16) 16 March 1997  Jefferson Cepeda (ECU) (1996-03-02) 2 March 1996  Álvaro Cuadros (ESP) (1995-04-12) 12 April 1995  Jhojan García (COL) (1998-01-10) 10 January 1998  David González (ESP) (1996-02-21) 21 February 1996  Jon Irisarri (ESP) (1995-11-09) 9 November 1995

Rider Date of birth  Jonathan Lastra (ESP) (1993-06-03) 3 June 1993  Oier Lazkano (ESP) (1999-11-07) 7 November 1999  Matteo Malucelli (ITA) (1993-10-20) 20 October 1993  Sergio Martín (ESP) (1996-12-13) 13 December 1996  Joel Nicolau (ESP) (1997-12-23) 23 December 1997  Alejandro Osorio (COL) (1998-05-28) 28 May 1998  Cristián Rodríguez (ESP) (1995-03-03) 3 March 1995  Héctor Sáez (ESP) (1993-11-06) 6 November 1993  Gonzalo Serrano (ESP) (1994-08-17) 17 August 1994  Carmelo Urbano (ESP) (1997-02-03) 3 February 1997

Major wins

2010

Stage 1 Vuelta a Leon, Arturo Mora

Stage 1 Volta a Portugal, Oleg Chuzhda

Stage 5 Volta a Portugal, José Herrada

Overall Cinturo de l'Emporda, José Herrada

Stage 2, José Herrada

2011

Vuelta a Asturias, Javier Moreno

Stage 3, Javier Moreno

2012

Stage 1 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Manuel Antonio Cardoso

Stage 3 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Yelko Gomez

Rogaland GP, Antonio Piedra

Stage 2 Circuit de Lorraine, Francesco Lasca

Stage 2 Volta a Portugal, Francesco Lasca

Stage 15 Vuelta a España, Antonio Piedra

2013

Vuelta a La Rioja, Francesco Lasca

Vuelta a Asturias, Amets Txurruka

Stage 1, Amets Txurruka

Stage 5 Volta a Portugal, Manuel Antonio Cardoso

2014

Stage 1 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo, Luis León Sánchez

Klasika Primavera, Pello Bilbao

Stage 3 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Luis León Sánchez

Stage 2 Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta, Davide Viganò

Mountains classification (Maillot Lunares) Vuelta a España, Luis León Sánchez

Overall Tour du Gévaudan Languedoc-Roussillon, Amets Txurruka

2015

Stage 1 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Pello Bilbao

Giro dell'Appennino, Omar Fraile

Stage 6 Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, Pello Bilbao

Stage 8 Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, Lluís Mas Bonet

Stage 4 Four Days of Dunkirk, Omar Fraile

Stage 2 Vuelta Ciclista Comunidad de Madrid, Carlos Barbero

Stage 4 Tour of Norway, Amets Txurruka

Philly Cycling Classic, Carlos Barbero

Overall Tour de Beauce, Pello Bilbao

Stages 1 & 4, Carlos Barbero

Stage 2, Amets Txurruka

Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia, Ángel Madrazo

Stage 5 Volta a Portugal, José Gonçalves

Stage 1 Vuelta a Burgos, Carlos Barbero

Stage 8 Volta a Portugal, Eduard Prades

Mountains classification (Maillot Lunares) Vuelta a España, Omar Fraile

Coppa Sabatini, Eduard Prades

2016

Stage 4 Étoile de Bessèges, Ángel Madrazo

Overall Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, José Gonçalves

Stage 2, Pello Bilbao

Stage 6, Jaime Rosón

Overall Vuelta a Asturias, Hugh Carthy

Stage 1, Hugh Carthy

Stage 1 Volta Internacional Cova da Beira, Eduard Prades

Stage 2 Volta Internacional Cova da Beira, José Gonçalves

Philly Cycling Classic, Eduard Prades

Stage 7 Volta a Portugal, José Gonçalves

Stage 5 Vuelta a Burgos, Sergio Pardilla

2017

Stage 5 Tour of Croatia, Jaime Rosón

Stage 4 Rhône-Alpes Isère Tour, Justin Oien

2018

Stage 2 Vuelta Ciclista Comunidad de Madrid, Nelson Soto

Stage 4 Rhône-Alpes Isère Tour, Yannis Yssaad

Prologue Trofeu Joaquim Agostinho, Rafael Reis

Circuito de Getxo, Alex Aranburu

Prologue Volta a Portugal, Rafael Reis

2019

Classica da Arrabida, Jonathan Lastra

Stage 2 Vuelta Ciclista Comunidad de Madrid, Alex Aranburu

Stage 1 Boucles de la Mayenne, Mauricio Moreira

Stage 2 Boucles de la Mayenne, Jon Aberasturi

Circuito de Getxo, Jon Aberasturi

Stage 2 Vuelta a Burgos, Jon Aberasturi

Stage 4 Vuelta a Burgos, Alex Aranburu

2020

Stage 2 Vuelta a Andalucía, Gonzalo Serrano

National champions

2012

 Bulgaria Road Race Championships, Danail Petrov

 Portugal Road Race Championships, Manuel Antonio Cardoso

2013

 Bulgaria Road Race Championships, Danail Petrov

2019

European Track (Scratch race), Sebastian Mora

References

1. Caja Rural "Dossier de patrocinio 2012" ("Sponsorship Dossier 2012"). Team Caja Rural. 2011. p. 9.
2. Fotheringham, Alasdair (19 February 2013). "Caja Rural Pro-Conti Team Secures Second Sponsor". Cycling News. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
3. "Historia Caja Rural (Spanish)". Team Caja Rural. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
4. Caja Rural "Dossier de patrocinio 2012" ("Sponsorship Dossier 2012"). Team Caja Rural. 2011. p. 3.
5. "Iñaki Juanikorena denuncia al Caja Rural por incumplimiento de contrato (Spanish)". Diario de Noticias-Edición Digital. Archived from the original on 2013-02-16. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
6. "Iñaki Juanikorena demanda a Caja Rural y solicita a la UCI el bloqueo de la garantía bancaria (Spanish)". europapress.es (Europa Press). Retrieved 16 January 2013.
7. "El director Iñaki Juanikorena gana su contencioso contra Caja Rural (Spanish)". biciclismo.com. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
8. Caja Rural "Dossier de patrocinio 2012" ("Sponsorship Dossier 2012"). Team Caja Rural. 2011. p. 4.
9. Caja Rural "Dossier de patrocinio 2012" ("Sponsorship Dossier 2012"). Team Caja Rural. 2011. p. 5.
10. Moore, Kyle (2 September 2012). "Antonio Piedra makes the season for Caja Rural". VeloNation. VeloNation LLC. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
11. Pryde, Kenny (2 September 2012). "Rodriguez rules at Covadonga as Froome loses time in Vuelta". Cycling Weekly. IPC Media Limited. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
12. "Entrevista Marcos García". Caja Rural Team. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
13. "ViVELO Bicycles News". ViVELO Inc. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
14. "Euskaltel-Euskadi denies 'deal for points' with Oscar Freire". Velonews. Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
15. "Nuevo Patrocinador". teamcajarural.com. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
16. "Dani Navarro conquista la XXXIII Vuelta Murcia". Club Murciano (Race Organiser). Archived from the original on 2013-02-25. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
17. "Victoria Caja Rural-Seguros RGA". Team Caja Rural-Seguros RGA. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
18. "RGA Seguros: La Compañia: Historia". RGA Seguros. Archived from the original on 2013-02-26. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
19. "Seguros RGA se une al equipo ciclista Caja Rural (Spanish)". Team Caja Rural. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
20. "Caja Rural: Patrocinadores (Sponsors)". Retrieved 21 January 2013.
21. "Team Caja Rural Rolls Into The Ring". Road Bike Action Magazine. Hi-Torque Publications. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
22. "bed4U, nuevo patrocinador de Caja Rural Team". Bed4U Hotels. Archived from the original on 2013-07-26. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
23. "Fuerteventura y Playitas" (in Spanish). Equipo Ciclista Caja Rural. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
24. "Centro Vitasport Localización". Centro Médico Vitasport. Archived from the original on 2013-03-15. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
25. "Caja Rural - Seguros RGA". UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 5 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
26. Torrego, José María (11 October 2019). "Héctor Sáez regresa a Caja Rural tras su paso por el Murias" [Héctor Sáez returns to Caja Rural after passing through the Murias]. La Guía del Ciclismo (in Spanish). Charaxes Jasius S.L. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

External links

• Official website (in Spanish)