Line-Up Almeria & Murcia

Euskaltel will send a strong teams to the next two races : Almeria and Murcia. The team will consist of Sanchez, Astarloza, Bru, Fernandez, Isasi, Agirre and Velasco. A strong team and with Astarloza's shape we can expect something.

Valenciana 4 : Gorka 11th, 5th in General

It was once again Gorka Verdugo who was the best Euskaltel rider in the 4th stage of the Tour of Valenciana. In the sprint, won by Mirco Lorenzetto, he placed himself good on an 11th place and now he's 5th in the general rank. Also Juan Jose Oroz has been active. He was in one of the first breaks but together with Contador and Cunego that break didn't have a chance.

Results
1 Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Lampre 4.15.00 (41.318 km/h)
2 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom ST
3 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas ST
...
11. Gorka Verdugo ST
32. Ruben Perez +0:14
33. Markel Irizar +0:14
36. Haimar Zubeldia +0:14
79. Beñat Albizuri +1:00
88. Juan Jose Oroz +1:14
115. Alan Perez +2:34
116. Andoni Lafuente +2:54

Valenciana 3 : Goka 7th after catastrophe

The third race in the Tour of Valenciana became a real catastrophe. Euskaltel was doing a good job. Ruben Perez was active on the first climb and Markel Irizar was part of an early breakaway. But nine kilometres before the finish Ruben Plaza and Manuel Vazquez were alone in front but the chasing peloton was lead to the wrong way so they didn't have a chance to get the break back in. For Gorka this wasn't a real catastrophe, he came in 16 seconds behind and is 4th in the general rank, but Haimar Zubeldia and Ruben Perez came in 2:25 minutes, so they don't have a chance in the general rank anymore.

Results

1 Manuel Váquez (Spa) Contentpolis - Murcia 4.08.49 (40.15 km/h)

2 Rubén Plaza (Spa) Benfica ST

3 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom +0.16

...

7. Gorka Verdugo +0:16

28. Ruben Perez +2:25

37. Haimar Zubeldia +2:25

51. Markel Irizar +10:54

70. Juan Jose Oroz +16:48

107. Beñat Albizuri +26:16

114. Andoni Lafuente +26:16

130. Alan Perez +26:16

Valencia 2 : Oroz in break, Gorka 9th

Today the riders got another hilly stage with 5 mountains of third category in the Tour of Valenciana. For Euskaltel it was Juan Jose Oroz who defended the orange colors. He was in the early breakaway with two others and they stayed in front until 8 kilometres before the finish. In the sprint with a small peloton Gorka Verdugo placed himself once again good with an 9th place. He's now third in the general ranks. Also Ruben Perez placed himself good with an 11th place.

Results
1 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 4.31.22 (39.356 km/h)
2 Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Lampre ST
3 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis ST
...
9. Gorka Verdugo ST
11. Ruben Perez ST
41. Haimar Zubeldia ST
49. Markel Irizar +0:08
89. Alan Perez +0:13
118. Juan Jose Oroz +5:06
126. Andoni Lafuente +6.22
131. Beñat Albizuri +9:39

Valenciana 1 : Gorka in great shape

It wasn't Haimar nor Ruben Perez that made Euskaltels day today, but it was Gorka Verdugo ! First he got in the break of the day, he took alot of points for the mountain classification and some bonus seconds for the general rank but it wasn't good enough to stay in front. In the end sprint with a groupe 24 he sprinted to a good 10th place. He's now 5th in the general rank. Also Haimar came in with the first ones, on an 18th place.

Results
1 Iván Gutiérrez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3.46.59 (41.5 km/h)
2 Rubén Plaza (Spa) Benfica ST
3 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom ST
...
10. Gorka Verdugo ST
18. Haimar Zubeldia ST
40. Ruben Perez +1.33
42. Alan Perez +1.33
46. Markel Irizar +1.33
53. Juan Jose Oroz +1.33
121. Andoni Lafuente +12.25
128. Beñat Albizuri +12.25

Haimar leader Valenciana team

Haimar will lead the Euskaltel team in the upcoming Tour of Valenciana. He will lead a good team with Gorka Verdugo, Andoni Lafuente, Markel Irizar, Juan Jose Oroz, Beñat Albizuri, Alan Perez and Ruben Perez. Seeing his good shape in the Vuelta de Mallorca he should be able to get a good place in the general rank and maybe a victory.

Mikel in 6 hours of Euskadi

Mikel Astarloza competed in the 6 days of Euskadi and together with Marco Vila he did a pretty good job. They became second after starduo Risi-Marvulli. Here are some pictures of Mikel during the event.

Mikel on Track

Because Euskaltel didn't get a first victory in Australia, nor in Andalucia, Mikel Astarloza decided to try something else and win something. He will, just like last year, participate on the track in the Six hours of Euskadi in San Sebastian. There he will team up with specialist Marco Villa. Hopefully Mikel will stay with the road after this, but that won't be a problem I think :P Though it's a great thing to get more speed.

Andalucia 5 : Aitor 7, Mikel 4 in General

Despite all the efforts the Euskaltel riders have put in the races, they will have to leave the Ruta del Sol without a victory. Today it was a normal sprint stage with an early break that Jon just didn't make. But the sprinterteams took them back and in the sprint Alessandro Petacchi took his third victory in a row before the promising french sprinter Flahaut and Siedler. Aitor came in 7th, he seems in a good shape but he always fails to get in the higher ranks, maybe we will get to see something more in the next races. In general the whole team looks strong and especially Mikel who took a fourth place overall. Josu Agirre seems to have some problems adjusting to the pace but this will come with the time.

Results
1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram 3.49.20 (40,55 km/h)
2 Denis Flahaut (Fra) Saunier Duval - Scott ST
3 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Skil-Shimano ST
...
7. Aitor Galdos ST
22. Mikel Astarloza ST
38. Jorge Azanza ST
42. Dioni Galparsoro ST
43. Jon Bru ST
59. Josu Agirre +0:13
66. Igor Anton +0:30

General Rank
1 Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 20.33.15
2 Clément Lhotellerie (Fra) Skil-Shimano + 0.48
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto +1.32
...
4. Mikel Astarloza +1:36
23. Igor Anton +6:56
33. Jorge Azanza +9:24
42. Aitor Galdos +20:12
45. Dionisio Galparsoro +20:19
47. Jon Bru +20:49
69. Josu Agirre +33:00

Andalucia 4 : Aitor 6th, Dioni in Break

The fourth stage of the Ruta del Sol was an exciting one because Dioni Galparsoro came close to a victory (or atleast a very good rank). Because together with four others he was in the break of the day and they didn't get realed back in until 1,5km. Then the sprinters came and Petacchi took his second victory in a row. Aitor placed himself good on a nice 6th place. Mikel is still 4th in the general rank.

Results
1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram 4.18.46 (40.113 km/h)
2 Borut Bozic (Slo) Cycle Collstrop
3 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Skil-Shimano
...
6. Aitor Galdos ST
20. Mikel Astarloza ST
32. Dionisio Galparsoro ST
34. Igor Anton ST
36. Jorge Azanza ST
46. Jon Bru +0:15
59. Josu Agirre +0:23

The third stage of the Vuelta de Andalucia was once again a hilly one. But despite the five hills the're were no huge differences at the end. A group of twenty five came in together with among them Mikel on the 9th place; Aitor on the 10th and Dionisio 23th. The stage was one by Alessandro Petacchi before Visconti and Ricco.

In the general rank Mikel Astarloza is now fourth, 1:36 down on Lastras.

Results
1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram 4.29.37 (38.721 km/h)
2 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Quickstep ST
3 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott ST
...
9. Mikel Astarloza ST
10. Aitor Galdos ST
23. Dionisio Galparsoro ST
28. Jon Bru +0:15
33. Igor Anton +0:49
47. Jorge Azanza +1:56
69. Josu Agirre +7.12

Andalucia 2 : Mikel second !!!

It was once again a rainy stage in the Vuelta de Andalucia but today it was Mikel Astarloza's turn to steal the show. Early in the race a groupe of sixteen riders left for an escape of 160km. On the last climb it was Cadel Evans that took off and thanx to his teammates nobody else could threaten him. Mikel Astarloza was the one who managed to stay the closest, he finished second with 4 seconds. Mikel is now fourth in the general rank 2:27 down on Lhotellerie. Iban Mayoz wants again a place with Euskaltel because he's prooving that he's worth it, he became 10th today.

Results
1. Cadel Evans Silence-Lotto 4:47:31
2. Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel-Euskadi +0:04
3. Juan Manuel Garate Quick Step +0:09
...
26. Igor Anton +04:05
35. Jorge Azanza +05:56
55. Jon Bru +18:47
64. Aitor Galdos +18:47
65. Dionisio Galparsoro +18:47
69. Josu Agirre +18:54

Andalucia 1 : Galdos 5th

The first stage of the Vuelta Andalucia or Ruta del Sol was a very rainy one and it seemed that the riders didn't have much drive to ride. Three riders escaped and at the end it went between Lopez Gil and Lhotellerie, and the first one on. The peloton sprinted for the fourth place and Aitor Galdos became nice 5th. He keeps getting better and better so maybe a victory is in the air. Also Dionisio placed himself in the top 20 with a good 16th place.

Results
1. Jose Lopz Gil Andalucia 3:05:55
2. Clement Lhotellerie Skil +0:09
3. Pablo Lastras Caisse +1:51
...
5. Aitor Galdos +3:31
16. Dionisio Galparsoro +3:38
28. Jorge Azanza +3:38
29. Igor Anton +3:38
32. Jon Bru +3:38
35. Mikel Astarloza +3:38
76. Josu Agirre +8:24

Anton about Ruta del Sol

Today Euskaltel-Euskadi will take part in the Vuelta a Andalucia or Ruta del Sol. Igor Anton will make his seasons debut here and this is what he had to say about it. Anton : "I go without any pressure and with the intention to make kilometres but I'm a bit nervous. Since I started cycling the first race is always a bit scary. Im still not 100%, that should come in the Tour of the Basque Country. Meanwhile I have to work every day to see how things are improving."

Mallorca 5 : Haimar 10th, 3rd in General

It was the final day of the Vuelta a Mallorca and the Euskaltel riders put their best leg forward once again. Especially Haimar did a great job. He took a good 10th stage and by this result he maintained his third spot in the general rank. Ruben Perez ended just behind Haimar on a 11th place. Jon Bru once again placed himself in the top 20, 18th, and he finished 5 in the general rank. With Gorka ending 12th Euskaltel should have won the team classification but due to one weird reason they didn't :X

Results
1 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step 3.55.23 (37.624 km/h)
2 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Astana ST
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne ST
...
10. Haimar Zubeldia +0:02
11. Ruben Perez +0:02
18. Jon Bru +0:07
28. Gorka Verdugo +0:07
39. Javier Aramendia +0:15
44. Iñigo Landaluze +0:15
46. Ivan Velasco +0:15
58. Lander Aperribay +0:20

General
1 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise Des Jeux 18.17.37
2 Aitor Perez (Spa) Extremadura-Ciclismo-Solidario ST
3 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi +0.03
...
5. Jon Bru +0:08
12. Gorka Verdugo +0:08