The team rode on the European Continental Circuit, until the beginning of the 2007 season, when they were granted a 🍊 ProTour licence.[1] In 2008, they were awarded a Professional Continental licence. The new team was led by Steffen Wesemann, and 🍊 problems previously experienced through having had sponsorship from a betting company were avoided with new sponsorship from a wooden flooring 🍊 company.
Unibet had also been drawn into the Operación Puerto doping investigation. The cyclist Carlos Quesada was named by the Spanish 🍊 authorities as a patient of Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes and was suspended by the team.[2] Although Quesada had been named, he 🍊 has not yet been formally charged with doping, which led to the management of Unibet to lift its suspension of 🍊 Quesada two weeks after it was imposed.[3] Nevertheless, the team did not pay the Spanish cyclist his salary, which led 🍊 to a lawsuit, finally resolved with Quesada leaving the team in exchange for a compensation.
The team, whose sponsors have pulled 🍊 out of cycling, failed to submit its application for renewal by the 20 November 2007 deadline and did not take 🍊 part in the 2008 UCI ProTour.[4] Many of the team members went to the newly formed team Vacansoleil.
Dispute with race 🍊 organisers [ edit ]
Despite obtaining a ProTour license for the 2007 season, Unibet were not granted entry in Paris–Nice, the 🍊 inaugural race of the series. The organiser of the French race, Amaury Sport Organisation, argued that French law bans gambling 🍊 companies (except for Française des Jeux and PMU, as well as some casinos). Nevertheless, Unibet took part in the French 🍊 races GP La Marseillaise and Étoile de Bessèges with special jerseys without their sponsor's name.
