Next season Spaniard Pablo Urtasun will be riding at the new continental team Viña Santa Cruz - Minera Candelaria. 28-year old Urtasun has signed a contract with the new team, which will be based in Murcia in Spain.

“Even though it seems to be a step back in my carrier to ride for a continental team, I’m looking forward to join this new project. It will allow me to continue riding in a time where many riders don’t have a job,” Urtasun says.

Being pro since 2005, Urtasun has been at Euskaltel-Euskadi for five years. With two appearances at each of the three grand tours, he will be one of the more experienced riders at the new team. This year, he won a stage in Vuelta a Castilla y León and he finished second in Klasika Primavera and last year he won a stage in Tour of Britain. The Spaniard became pro with Kaiku (2005-2006) and then he drove at Liberty (2007-2008), before starting his 5-year stay at Euskaltel (2009-2013).

The roster of the new team is now finished. It contains of eight Chilean riders, most of them under 23 and 4 experienced Spanish riders. As said, the team is based in Murcia and will compete in Europe, most of the time in Spain, France and Portugal.

“I will do my best to show that the confidence the team has showed me, is well-placed and it will grow with the project,” Urtasun finishes.