Trofeo Soler : Haimar 3rd in General

Euskaltel has had a quiet day in the Trofeo Soler. Nobody in the breakaway and nobody attacked, but instead they waited for the sprint. And it was worth it ! Aitor sprinted to a great 5th place, Haimar placed himself in the top 10 with a 9th place, Jon became 12th and Beñat 14. Due to this great results Haimar became third in the General Rank, and Jon and Beñat kept their great 5th and 6th place.

Results
1 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française Des Jeux 4.24.17 (36.87 km/h)
2 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank ST
3 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step ST
...
5. Aitor Galdos ST
9. Haimar Zubeldia ST
12. Jon Bru ST
14. Beñat Albizuri ST
53. Gorka Verdugo ST
54. Andoni Lafuente ST
64. Iñigo Landaluze ST
89. Josu Agirre +12:18

Euskaltel present in Paris-Nice

The ASO has announced that Euskaltel-Euskadi will be present at the Paris-Nice race 2008. They get an invitation just like all the other Protour teams, except for Astana that falls out of the boat once again. The wildcards went to Agritubel, Skil Shimano and Slipstream.

I don't have a line-up yet, but I hope it will come quickly.

Trofeo Pollença : Beñat 7th

It was another good day for Euskaltel in the Vuelta a Mallorca, some of the boys are realy in good shape. First we had Iñigo Landaluze and Ivan Velasco in the escape and when they were caught Landaluze decided that he wanted a second escape and so he did with four other guys. But 22 km before the end they also got caught. Then Euskaltel wanted to prevent a sprint so they start leading the peloton at a great pace, resulting in Ruben Perez and Javier Aramendia taking points in the last intermediate sprint. But the efforts didn't work out, it became a sprint and it was won by Jose Joaquin Rojas. Aitor Galdos didn't ride today so it was up to Beñat Albizuri and he did a great job ending 7th. Once again Haimar and Jon placed themselves in the top20 too with a 13th and 15th spot. Due to this results Euskaltel is first in the general team classifications with Haimar 4th, Jon 5th and Beñat 6th all in 3 seconds from the leader, Gilbert. Thanx to Arnout we now also know that Haimar attacked in the last kilometres but sadly enough failed. Way to go (y)

Results
1. Jose Joaquin Rojas Caisse d'Epargne 4:00:59
2. Giovanni Viscont Quick Step ST
3. Philippe Gilbert FDJ ST
...
7. Beñat Albizuri ST
13. Haimar Zubeldia ST
15. Jon Bru ST
28. Gorka Verdugo ST
29. Javier Aramendia ST
38. Ruben Perez ST
48. Iñigo Landaluze ST
56. Ivan Velasco +0:26
87. Lander Aperribay +11:57
88. Josu Agirre +11:57

Cala Millor : Galdos 8th, Txurruka out

It was a mixed day for Euskaltel in the second stage of the Vuelta a Mallorca in Cala-Millor. First we had Andoni Lafuente in the escape and he took some points at the intermediate sprint. The peleton took them again but at the end a bunch of 8 sprinted for the victory. In this bunch was Aitor Galdos, but he finished last. Two other good performances from Jon Bru 12th and Haimar Zubeldia 13th. The bad news now : Amets Txurruka fell at kilometre 85 and he broke his collarbone. This can cause that Amets will miss the first months of the season, hopefully he will get back for the Tour de France.

Results
1. Graeme Brown Rabobank 3:53:52
2. Denis Flahaut Saunier Duval ST
3. Gert Steegmans Quick Step ST
...
8. Aitor Galdos ST
12. Jon Bru +0:03
13. Haimar Zubeldia +0:03
34. Ruben Perez +0:03
38. Beñat Albizuri +0:03
48. Gorka Verdugo +0:03
92. Aitor Hernandez +0:20
121. Ivan Velasco +0:39
152. Andoni Lafuente +2:46

Mallorca : Aitor 14, Javier 15, Beñat 17

Euskaltel made a good debut in its first race of the season in Europe. But it was the Belgian Philippe Gilbert who stole the show by escaping in the last two kilometres. The peloton came too late and sprinted for the second place. Brown took it in front of Förster and Steegmans. For Euskaltel Aitor Galdos took an ok 14th place but apparently Javier Aramendia sprinted too and he became 15th + he got some points in the intermediate sprints. Also Beñat Albizuri ended in the top20 with a good 17th spot. One bad thing though, Ivan Velasco crashed in the last kilometres but everything is ok now.

Results
1 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise des Jeux 2.03.04 (48.75 km/h)
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank ST
3 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner ST
...
14. Aitor Galdos ST
15. Javier Aramendia ST
17. Beñat Albizuri ST
33. Haimar Zubeldia ST
34. Jon Bru ST
36. Gorka Verdugo ST
72. Lander Aperribay ST
88. Andoni Lafuente ST
104. Aitor Hernandez ST
158. Ivan Velasco +1.35

Pictures from trainings camp

Here are some pictures from the trainings camp this week. It looks like it was a very luxurious one, seeing the nice hotel. There was also a lot of media attention.

Interview Josu Agirre

Today you can read an interview with Josu Agirre in Gara and because I have some time today, I will try to translate it :D

How do you feel right before your opening in the jersey of Euskaltel ?
My dream came true when they called me for their team and I strongly desire to make my debut. I'm better than last year but I still have to improve a lot. But I will go and try to help Velasco, Bru and Galdos. It will be necessary to get into an escape and keep an eye on those guys.
You have rode in Mallorca with Orbea already, is it different with Euskaltel ?
The responsibility is the same but it's a protour equipment and that gives more motivation and your name will sound much stronger.
You ride three (smaller) tours and then you will ride the Giro
It's a very pretty calender. I hope the weather is good because I do better when it's hot. The Giro motivates me because I did a stage with LPR and I have always like Italy, its races and the food.
How was the first meeting with Euskaltel ?
I already knew some riders from Orbea and of course the fans supported me. It's a good atmosphere and it's all very organized. Every day the program is well structured, it's better than in a small equipment.
You got the opportunity when it was almost time to start fearing.
With 26 years it was or getting a great opportunity or quitting and things turned out great for me. I hope I can stay in the team for next year because that means I responded good to what the team wants from me. I hope I also will continue loving to ride the bike.
What are your goals for this season ?
I came to the equipment to get some victories. I won the time trial in the Vuelta a Madrid and was the leader for 4 days. Last year I didn't do that good in the trials because I had some problems with my back.

Schedule Haimar, Samuel & Igor

The big three of Euskaltel : Haimar Zubeldia, Samuel Sanchez and Igor Anton revealed their schedules for 2008 in todays Gara. Haimar will ride Mallorca, Valenciana, Catalunya, Dauphine and the Tour de France. Samuel will ride Murcia, Castilla y Leon, Asturias, Catalunya, Dauphine, Tour de France. And Igor Anton will ride Andalucia, Paris Nice, Llodio, Miguel Indurain, Pais Vasco, Klasika Primavera, Romandy, Catalunya, Euskal Bizikleta, Ordizia, Getxo, Burgos and Vuelta España. Especially for Igor this looks like a though schedule. I'm kinda sad that none of them comes to Belgium (Liege-Bastogne-Liege,...) :(

Euskaltel 2008 in International Magazines

Yesterday I was in Antwerp and I discovered a little shop with 8000 magazines. So of course I went straight for the cycling magazines and discovered three international (1 from France and 2 from the UK) magazines. They all dedicated this edition to the new teams so I will post what they had to say about Euskaltel

1. ProCycling
Last year : Gonzalez de Galdeano has every right to be pleased about last year, given the team is limited to Basque riders or those linked to the region. While the highlights were Sanchez's three wins and third place in the Vuelta, Zubeldia and Astarloza top10 at the Tour, where Txurruka's most aggressive rider award got the team there on the podium for the first time, leaving the ghost of Iban Mayo to rest.
Prognosis : Their Classics hopes may still rest on what Sanchez can conjure up on his own in the Ardennes, but they'll be fiercely competitive in those races that matter to them (Tour, Vuelta, Basque Country)
Bubbling under : Igor Anton and Koldo Fernandez
Needs a Result : Haimar Zubeldia

2. CycleSport
Last year : A lean year for wins. Koldo Fernandez won a stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, Igor Anton took one in the Tour of Romandy, Samuel Sanchez skipped the Tour but won stages in the Tour of the Basque Country, Catalonia and then three in the Vuelta.
New in 2008 : Very little, the signing of Egoi Martinez from Discovery Channel could turn out to be a fine one
Major Target :Sanchez wants to ride the Tour de France and get as high as possible on the GC, Zubeldia wants to win the Tour of the Basque Country and get a podium spot in the Vuelta, Txurruka wants the white jersey in the tour.
And they end with a picture of Gorka Verdugo with the name Haimar Zubeldia next to him :P

3. Planete Cyclisme
Last year : Without great victories, we have seen the Basques a lot in the small, medium and big races. But they have to aim higher.
Next year : Protour : ****, Classics : ****, Big Tours : ***

Euskaltel line-up trivia

Euskaltel announced on their site a lot of new and interesting things about the 2008 season. Haimar Zubeldia will be the leader for Paris-Nice, while Amets Txurruka will get the first spot in the Tirreno Adriatico. Eight names are almost sure for the Giro in may, these are Josu Agirre, Alan Perez, Koldo Fernandez, Dionisio Galparsoro, Juan Jose Oroz, Aitor Hernandez and Iñigo Landaluze. Koldo will also ride the Vuelta. Egoi will probably ride both Tour and Vuelta, but Haimar and Mikel will see of the Vuelta fits in their plans.

Vuelta a Andalucia-Ruta del Sol Line-up

Euskaltel will send a strong team to the Vuelta a Andalucia, although I don't think their two strongest men, Igor Anton and Mikel Astarloza, will show everything they got because they have to prepare for Tour/Vuelta. For the sprints there will be Aitor Galdos and maybe Josu Agirre. Azanza, Bru and Galparsoro will probably try to escape or help the others.

Interview Igor & Amets

In todays El Correo you can find an interesting interview with youngsters Igor Anton and Amets Txurruka. They talk about their youth with Euskaltel and their first Tour de France. You can read it here
http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/20080203/deportes/mas-deporte/hijos-euskaltel-euskadi-20080203.html

Dioni, Iñigo and Koldo for Giro

The noticias de Alava have announced that Iñigo Landaluze, Koldo Fernandez and Dionisio Galparsoro will be Euskaltels protected riders in the next Giro d'Italia. This is another good sign that Euskaltel will ride the Giro.

Euskaltel invited for Giro d'Italia

Today the invitations were send for the Giro d'Italia 2008 and Euskaltel got one ! This might seem like a logical thing but when you know that teams like Astana, High Roads, Credit Agricole, Bouygues Telecom and Acqua & Sapone didn't get an invitation so I'm very happy with it. I think this still doesn't mean that Euskaltel will ride the Giro but it's a good sign.

Vuelta a Mallorca

Euskaltel will send 14 riders to the Vuelta a Mallorca. Of course they all don't have to race the 5 challenges, but of course I wouldn't mind :P It will be Josu Agirre's first race for Euskaltel and together with Beñat Albizuri, Javier Aramendia, Jon Bru, Aitor Galdos, Aitor Hernandez, Markel Irizar, Haimar Zubeldia, Andoni Lafuente, Iñigo Landaluze, Ruben Perez, Amets Txurruka, Ivan Velasco and Gorka Verdugo they will make a strong team.