Aketza Pena Positive

Although Madariaga said his b-sample was negative, it seems that Aketza Peña's b-sample did come back positive. The b-sample already came back in August, but it wasn't announced to the Spanish Federation untill now. Aketza is suspended for two years.

Isasi not sure of Tour de France

Sprinter Iñaki Isasi told to DEIA that he was'nt sure of his spot in the Tour de France. Two more riders will get a spot in Euskaltels team but with some other strong contestants like Martiner and Fernandez he have to prove to the team that he is worth a spot. He will try this with a first professional victory, and with the Tour as a goal I think he can succeed in this mission. He also announced his schedule : Murcia - Basque Country - Romandie - Dauphiné.

Down Under 6 : Velasco 19th overall

The last stage hasn't been a succes for Euskaltel. There were no riders in the attack and Aitor Galdos fell, without any injuries, so he couldn't sprint for the victory. The victory went once again to Andre Greipel and of course he also won the General Rank. In that General Rank Ivan Velasco ended on a good 19th place and with Mikel 26th and Jon 27th, Euskaltel took the 5th spot in the teams classification.

Results
1 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 1.51.13 (47.474 km/h)
2 Jan Robert Forster (Ger) Gerolsteiner ST
3 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank ST
...
38. Ivan Velasco ST
41. Mikel Astarloza ST
45. Jon Bru ST
51. Andoni Lafuente ST
52. Javier Aramendia ST
57. Amets Txurruka ST
120. Aitor Galdos +3.35

General Rank
1 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 18.46.18
2 Allan Davis (Aus) Unisa - Australia +0.15
3 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne +0.33
...
19. Ivan Velasco +0.43
26. Mikel Astarloza +0.43
27. Jon Bru +0.43
44. Amets Txurruka +1.39
85. Andoni Lafuente +7.14
114. Javier Aramendia +16.35
120. Aitor Galdos +20.08

Down Under 5 : Galdos & Lafuente attack

The Euskaltel guys showed theirselves once again in the fifth stage of the Tour Down Under. Today it were Aitor Galdos and Andoni Lafuente in the daily breakaway. Especially from Andoni this was nice, seeing his last year wasn't really great. But sadly enough the break couldn't last. On the last climb a groupe of 40 rode away, among them Velasco, Bru and Astarloza. It became once again a sprint and once again Andre Greipel won. Ivan became 15th, a good result and also Jon ended in the top20, 19th.

Results
1 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 3.26.46
2 Allan Davis (Aus) Unisa - Australia ST
3 Jose Alberto Benitez Roman (Spa) Saunier Duval ST
...
15. Ivan Velasco ST
19. Jon Bru ST
23. Mikel Astarloza ST
53. Amets Txurruka +0.56
82. Andoni Lafuente +2.27
97. Javier Aramendia +11.48
122. Aitor Galdos +11.48

General Rank
1 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 16.55.18
2 Allan Davis (Aus) Unisa - Australia +0.07
3 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne +0.20
...
19. Ivan Velasco +0.30
29. Mikel Astarloza +0.30
30. Jon Bru +0.30
46. Amets Txurruka +1.26
87. Andoni Lafuente +7.01
116. Aitor Galdos +16.20
118. Javier Aramendia +16.22

Down Under 4 : Javier Aramandia = star

The fourth stage of the Tour Down Under has been won by Andre Greipel, the winner of the second stage. He won in a sprint before Renshaw and Rojas. But the actual star of today was neoprof Javier Aramandie, of course from Euskaltel. He escaped all alone from the peloton and did an amazing job by riding 80 kilometres in front of the others. But unfortunately he didn't survive the last ten kilometres. Also Mikel Astarloza rode in the picture today because he took two points for the general classifications. Aitor Galdos hasn't been in shape this Tour yet, he finished 24th today.

Results
1 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 3.14.46 (41.280 km/h)
2 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole ST
3 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne ST
...
24. Aitor Galdos ST
45. Ivan Velasco ST
49. Amets Txurruka ST
72. Mikel Astarloza ST
78. Javier Aramendia ST
88. Andoni Lafuente ST
106. Jon Bru ST

General Rank
1 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole 13.28.38
2 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team High Road +0.04
3 Allan Davis (Aus) Unisa - Australia +0.07
...
16. Mikel Astarloza +0.23
37. Ivan Velasco +0.24
41. Amets Txurruka +0.24
63. Jon Bru +0.24
98. Aitor Galdos +4.28
102. Javier Aramendia +4.28
111. Andoni Lafuente +4.28

Interview Mikel Astarloza : Down Under

There has been an interview with Mikel Astarloza in Gara about the Tour Down Under, and of course I will try to translate it.

What are your plans for the Tour Down Under ?
The team has the desire to do it well because it's the first race of the season. But i'm going to do it easy, especially with the Tour of the Basque Country in my head. That's the most important race for me and the team in the first part of the season. But the most important thing is to train here.

Who are the leaders of the team here ?
Especially Velasco, Galdos and Bru because they trained for the first part of the season. Let's hope they will do it good because that's really important for the team spirit.

You're the only one who has already competed Down Under ?
Yes, I already rode it four times, this is my fifth. I will try to tell the secrets to my fellow companions.

Which are the characteristics of the Tour Down Under ?
It's very exotic, you're in Australia and it's summer. You leave home in the cold and when you arrive it's really hot, almost forty degrees. You have to try to stay in the shadow as much as possible. The race itselfs doesn't have a lot of secrets, the stages are rather short, 140km, so it's an ideal place to start the season. Clearing the stage is the most important thing for the general rank.

Is it special to return to the race where you've got your only professional victory ?
Yes it's very special and I'm very happy to ride here. I have some great memories about this race.

You also got the victory with Simon Gerrans.
Yes, AG2R always did great here. We won in four of the eight years. Me on time, then Gerrans, Elmiger and Maignan.

Down Under 3 : Euskaltel where ?

It has been a silent day for the Euskaltel riders. The only thing we saw from them is that when the daily break with Sulzberger, Delage and Carlstrom was set, Euskaltel lead the peloton, but not for long. The escapers were caught again and in the sprint Australian/Basque rider Allan Davis won, beating Renshaw and Hayman. Best Euskaltel rider was Ivan Velasco with a 41th place. No Aitor because he was in the second groupe of the peloton 4 minutes down.

Results
1 Allan Davis (Aus) Unisa - Australia 3.13.48
2 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole ST
3 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank ST
...
41. Ivan Velasco ST
71. Jon Bru ST
73. Amets Txurruka ST
81. Mikel Astarloza ST
103. Javier Aramendia +4.04
107. Aitor Galdos +4.04
110. Andoni Lafuente +4.04

Down Under 2 : Galdos 21th

The second stage of the Tour Down Under was another very hot race. Early escapers today were Offredo, Crosbie and Poulhies but two laps before the finish they were caught again. Then Javier Aramendia tried to get away with some others, but sadly enough this wasn't possible as it would become a sprint. In that sprint Greipel got the first victory for the new team High Road Sport. Second was Brown and Allan Davis third. Aitor Galdos didn't have a great day and finished 21th. Jon Bru also tried to get some more mountain points but Gilbert overclassed him in the sprints. All the Euskaltel riders came in with the peloton.

Results
1 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team High Road 3.46.55
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank ST
3 Allan Davis (Aus) Unisa - Australia ST
...
21. Aitor Galdos ST
27. Amets Txurruka ST
35. Ivan Velasco ST
39. Mikel Astarloza ST
50. Jon Bru ST
53. Javier Aramendia ST
115. Andoni Lafuente ST

Down Under 1 : Galdos 16th again

This night the protour season started with the Tour Down Under in Australia. The Euskaltel riders definitely wanted to show themselves because Txurruka tried to get in the break and Jon Bru took 12 points for the mountains classification. But the best Basque was Aitor Galdos who placed himself 16th in the sprint. The sprint was won by Mark Renshaw, before Rojas and Brown. All Euskaltel riders came in with the peloton, even Javier Aramendia who rode his first official race for Euskaltel.

Results
1 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole 3.13.33
2 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne ST
3 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank ST
...
16. Aitor Galdos ST
27. Jon Bru ST
30. Amets Txurruka ST
38. Ivan Velasco ST
57. Mikel Astarloza ST
62. Javier Aramendia ST
92. Andoni Lafuente ST

Javier Aramendia fell

Apparently the weak performance of Javier Aramendia in his first race for Euskaltel was nothing to worry about. He fell during the race and wasn't able to come back as quick as he wanted. But everything is allright and he will definitely start in the Tour Down Under.

Down Under Classic : Galdos 16th

Euskaltel's season has been kicked of with a criterium Down Under, the Down Under Classic. It was a 50km long criterium with 25 laps for both pros and amateurs, but of course onlye the pros were able to compete for the victory.

It was Andre Greipel who took the first victory for the semi-new team High Road. He won it in a sprint with 19 others before Mark Renshaw and Robbie McEwen. Aitor Galdos came in 16th, maybe a bit disappointing but with the hot weather he probably needs to acclimatize a bit more. Javier Aramendia rode his first race witht the profs and wasn't yet used to the speed because he came in second last.


Results
1. Andre Greipel 1.09.20
2. Mark Renshaw ST
3. Robbie McEwen ST
...
16. Aitor Galdos ST
41. Amets Txurruka +0.23
56. Mikel Astarloza +0.31
69. Andoni Lafuente +0.36
97. Jon Bru +1.01
98. Ivan Velasco +1.01
122. Javier Aramendia +

Aitor Hernandez in 2007

2007 has been a good year for Aitor Hernandez and I think Euskaltel believes in him, otherwise they won't let him ride in the Basque Country and the Vuelta. He started his year strong with a 16th and 12th spot in the Valenciana. In the Tour of the Basque Country he made all the basques proud by winning the mountains jersey and with an 11th place in the last stage. He also rode the Giro where he got two 18th places and a 12th place, but after the 11th stage he had to give up. He rode the Vuelta without a great result but of course he helped Samuel and Igor alot. Looking forward to see more of him next year.

Trofeo Mallorca : 75

Trofeo Pollenca : 38

Trofeo Soller : 35

Valenciana : 16-12-49-59-27 => 52

Tirreno : 104-53-124-141-108-80-26 => 98

Sanremo : 113

Basque Country : 63-162-134-91-47-11 => 68

Primavera : 20

Giro : 21-80-126-42-18-12-154-99-39-91-18-X

Ordizia : 49

Burgos : 52-30-91-27-63 => 26

Vuelta : 161-39-105-68-139-160-143-89-32-88-97-125-68-90-114-110-123-107-20-27-46 => 81

Dionisio Galparsoro

Dionisio's year has been one with good results but also with a lot of pain. His season was probably planned around the Giro. He showed this in Rioja where he became 4th in the general ranking. In the Giro he got a great 5th place in the 8th stage but three days later he had to gave up because of a fall. He couldn't get in action anymore untill the summer but he got the opportunity to ride another tour, the Vuelta. There he became 14th in the 5th stage and 15th in the 16th stage and of course he also helped Samuel and Igor alot. He finished his season with a 47th place in Lombardia.

Santarem : 91-39-82-45 => 51
Criterium International : 68-X
Rioja : 14-10-5 => 4
Giro : 21-35-20-23-25-98-96-5-38-48-29-X
Ordizia : 25
Germany : 143-19-38-86-34-85-111-118-40 => 46
Vatenfall : 66
Vuelta : 102-41-48-26-14-72-40-149-30-82-46-61-51-42-137-15-20-142-61-76-73
Lombardia : 47

Murcia line-up

The line-up for the Vuelta a Murcia is already out and it's a strong one. The two leaders will be Samuel Sanchez and Mikel Astarloza. They will be helped by the newbies Josu Agirre and Javier Aramendia and the others Ivan Velasco, Jon Bru, Jorge Azanza and Andoni Lafuente.

Koldo Fernandez in 2007

Koldo Fernandez proved in 2007 that he is the best sprinter within Euskaltel. He had a phenomenal year, he maybe didn't have as much victories as he wanted, but he surely did get some great results. Koldo immediately started the year strong with a 4th place in the Trofeo Mallorca, a 6th place in the Trofeo Calvia and a 5th place in the general rank of the Vuelta a Andalucia. Of course with these results the victory couldn't stay out, and it didn't. In a fantastic sprint he beat all the others and won the last stage in the Tirreno Adriatico. After a second place in the last stage in Rioja he went on to one of his goals : The Giro d'Italia. He showed himself once again with a 5th and 7th spot in a sprint, but it wasn't really what he expected. His last big race of the season was the Vuelta. With 1oth place, two 7th places, two 4th places and a 2nd place he rode a great Vuelta, sadly enough without a victory.

Trofeo Mallorca : 4
Trofeo Millor : 113
Trofeo Calvia : 6
Andalucia : 8-26-8-3-2 => 5
Tirreno : 39-16-49-55-105-131-1 => 84
San Remo : 41
Wevelgem : 68
Roubaix : 81
Rioja : 12-56-2 => 40
Giro : 21-30-29-166-13-177-10-181-5-132-7-156-157-107-126-31-105-12-89-129-15 => 136
Eindhoven TTT : 21
Getxo : 14
Germany : 23-19-178-84-149-5-10-134-13 => 124
Vatenfall : 63
Vuelta : 7-182-159-159-124-2-4-100-166-170-14-11-14-116-141-4-10-106-99-124-7 => 133