After ending his pro career after 18 years in the peloton, the Spanish pro José Luis Arrieta has switched roles and will now act as directeur sportif in 2011. The former Ag2r La Mondiale rider was today confirmed as moving to Team Movistar, and will guide the riders there during races next season.
The 39 year old turned pro in 1993, riding with the Banesto setup right through its relaunching as the Caisse d’Epargne – Illes Balears team in 2005. He moved to Ag2r La Prévoyance the following season and took his biggest career win, namely victory on stage 19 of the Vuelta a España. He remained with the French team since then.
During his career Arrieta had the chance to learn from Miguel Indurain, who won his third Tour in the year that Arrieta turned pro. Beginning his career in the service of the dominant Spaniard saw the former national junior champion settle into a domestique role that he never really shook off, but his Vuelta stage win and victory on a stage of the Vuelta Ciclista Asturias gave him the chance to savour the top step of the podium.
He rode the Tour de France on ten occasions, netting a best finish of 28th in 1996.
This season, he rode his final Vuelta in the service of team leader Nicolas Roche, who placed seventh overall. Arrieta now has the chance to help the Team Movistar riders from behind the steering wheel, sharing the knowledge he has built up during his long career.
The team today confirmed three of those that he will be working with The 23 year old Javier Iriarte and Enrique Sanz, two years his junior, are making the step up to the pro ranks after racing with the Lizarte amateur team this season.
The 32 year old Fran Pérez has been handed a new one year contract, extending his time with the team which started back in 2005. He had a quiet season but will have a chance to show what he can do in 2011.