Circuito de Getxo : Koldo second

Euskaltel did a great job in this years Circuito de Getxo. First of all Alan Perez was in the attack the whole day but the breakaway got caught again in the last kilometres. This was kind of weird because in the peloton Euskaltel was making the pace for Koldo. Everything came back together and it looked like Koldo would have an easy win but an unknown dutch guy Reinier Honig beat him.


Results
1. Reinier Honig P3 Transfer-Batavus 4:16:52
2. Koldo Fernandez Euskaltel ST
3. Enrique Mata Burgos Monumental ST
...
21. Markel Irizar +0:02
25. Aitor Hernandez +0:02
37. Alan Perez +1:45
50. Javier Aramendia +1:45
91. Lander Aperribay +7:20

Aketza Peña free !

According to El Correo Aketza Peña has finally been able to prove his innonce and is now cleared. Aketza tested positive on nandrolon in the first stage of Trentino and this news was announced during the Giro so he had to leave.

Aketza is still training so hopefully he will get a contract with a team next year.

Euskaltel for Getxo,

Next week three important Basque races are on the schedule and of course Euskaltel will be part of them. In the Circuito de Getxo Euskaltel will be lead by sprinter Koldo Fernandez, helped by Albizuri, Aperribay, Aramendia, Galparsoro, Hernandez, Irizar, Lafuente, Luengo and A. Perez.

Next saturday the most important cycling race in the Basque Country, the Clasica San Sebastian, will be held. Euskaltel sends most of his Tour team, so they are aiming for a very good result. Sanchez, Astarloza, Zubeldia, Martinez, R. Perez, A. Perez, Velasco and Verdugo will all be present.

Sunday the team leader will be Igor Anton. He will be supported by the three tourboys Oroz, Txurruka and Verdugo, together with Albizuri, Azanza, Bru, Hernandez, Irizar and Lafuente.

Aitor Galdos falls

Yesterday during the team's last check-up for the Circuito de Getxo next thursday Aitor Galdos crashed. He hit his head hard on the floor, but luckily he was wearing a helmet. He was immediately send to the hospital where they diagnosed that he had a cranial trauma. They did some tests on him and he had to stay in the hospital for one night, but he's already home now. Hopefully Aitor will recover soon, so we can see him shine again !

Euskaltel in 2009

Miguel Madariaga said to Diario Vasco that Euskaltel will only have place for 20 to 22 guys next year. This means that 5 or 6 riders will have to look out for another team. Last year we saw that this wasn't easy for the ones that had to leave then but I hope the best for them. Madariaga also announced that Mikel Nieve will join the team next year, but more about him later.

I'll be back :)

Yes I know it's been a while since I updated my blog and I apologize for that. It has been a busy for me with holidays, computer problems and my new job at www.wvcycling.com. But this Tour I once again had to notice that the world knows too little about Euskaltel so my mission hasn't finished yet. In the upcoming weeks there will be some great other races like San Sebastian, Urkiola and of course the Olympic Games with Samuel so I'm looking forward to it.

Tour 4 : Samuel 21, Haimar disappoints

It was the first time trial challenge in this years Tour de France and it would be the first battle between the favourites. Fabian Cancellara was the topfavourite, but it was the strong German Stefan Schumacher who was the fastest. Among the favourites Kirchen, Evans and Menchov all ended in the top 10. Losers of the day were Valverde and Ricco. Samuel and Mikel did both ok with a 21th and 27th place, but they both can do better. Haimar really disappointed with a 100th place, 3:22 down on Schumacher.

Results
1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 35.44 (49.534 km/h)
2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 0.18
3 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
...
21. Samuel Sanchez +1:31
27. Mikel Astarloza +1:42
72. Gorka Verdugo +2:57
100. Haimar Zubeldia +3:22
113. Egoi Martinez +3:35
114. Juan Jose Oroz +3:36
124. Iñaki Isasi +3:45
135. Amets Txurruka +3:54
145. Ruben Perez +4:08

General Rank
1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 14.04.41
2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 0.12
3 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b
...
19. Samuel Sanchez +1:31
22. Mikel Astarloza +1:42
45. Haimar Zubeldia +3:22
49. Egoi Martinez +3:35
55. Gorka Verdugo +3:46
79. Ruben Perez +5:13
88. Juan Jose Oroz +5:29
90. Iñaki Isasi +5:38
122. Amets Txurruka +7:18

Tour 3 : Isasi 14th

Today the first real sprinting stage was on schedule but it didn't really go that way. Early in the race a break of four with Feillu, Dumoulin, Frischkorn and Longo Borghini left. The peloton thought everything was under control but due to the wind the four stayed away. In the last kilometre it was Feillu who attacked, but Dumoulin managed to get him back and win the stage. In the peloton Quick Step made the pace and due to the speed the peloto broke. Luckily in the first group you could see a lot of orange of Euskaltel so everything was fine. Less happy were Menchov, Ricco and Kreuziger because they lost some valuable time in the second group. First Euskaltel to finish was Isasi on a 14th place.


The yellow jersey is now in the hands of Romain Feillu. Mikel is 17th, Samuel 18th and Haimar 33th. With tomorrows time trial the general rank will once again change and we will get to see who are the real favourites. Hopefully the Big Basque Three will be among them.


Results
1 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 5.05.27
2 William Frischkorn (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
3 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
...
14. Iñaki Isasi +2:03
31. Mikel Astarloza +2:03
32. Ruben Perez +2:03
37. Samuel Sanchez +2:03
52. Egoi Martinez +2:03
54. Haimar Zubeldi+2:03
63. Juan Jose Oroz +2:03
111. Gorka Verdugo +2:41
159. Amets Txurruka +4:55

Tour 2 : Mikel 15th, 16th Samuel

It was quite quiet day for Euskaltel in the Tour de France. Early in the race Amets Txurruka got in an escape but it wasn't the right one. During the race there were a lot of falls including Egoi and Samuel, but they are ok now. Just like the other day there was an early break with Voeckler, Chavanel, Moreau and Le Lay but with 2 kilometres to go they were all caught again. Then there was an furious attack of Cancellara, but it wasn't good enough. It became a sprint and Thor Hushovd was the strongest before Kirchen and Ciolek. Mikel was the first to finish on a 15th place because while Samuel was sprinting he had a technical problem or something and became 16th. Haimar was placed in the same time as the winner due some falls in the peloton.

Results
1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 3.45.13 (43.84 km/h)
2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia
3 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia
...
15. Mikel Astarloza ST
16. Samuel Sanchez ST
42. Iñaki Isasi ST
58. Haimar Zubeldia ST
66. Juan Jose Oroz ST
79. Amets Txurruka ST
80. Gorka Verdugo ST
91. Ruben Perez ST
116. Egoi Martinez ST

General Rank
1 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 8.21.20
2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 0.01
3 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
...
16. Samuel Sanchez +0:07
19. Mikel Astarloza +0:07
40. Haimar Zubeldia +0:07
44. Egoi Martinez +0:07
53. Gorka Verdugo +0:18
74. Amets Txurruka +0:39
89. Ruben Perez +1:12
101. Iñaki Isasi +2:00
106. Juan Joseo Orz +2:00

Tour 1 :Ruben Perez in the break

The Tour de France 2008 didn't start with a proloque but with a normal stage.A lot of people said it would become one for the sprinters, but it were the men for the general rank who finished it. The first break of the day was immediately the right one and it contained Ruben Perez together with Voeckler, Arrieta, Lequatre, Schröder, De La Fuente, Auge and Jegou. In the break Ruben took some points for the green jersey but it wasn't enough to get the jersey. With 7 km to go all the escapers were caught again and it could become a thrilling end. First Feillu went, but he was caught by Schumacher, who was then caught by Kirchen. It looked like the man from Luxemburg would take the victory but then Valverde outsprinted him. He won the stage and took the first yellow jersey. In the peloton ther were some breaks so some favourites only lost one second, some seven. The three big guns from Euskaltel all lost seven. Samuel became 19th, Mikel 24th, Haimar 47th.

Results
1 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 4.36.07 (42.91 km/h)
2 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux +0.01
3 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
...
19. Samuel Sanchez +0:07
24. Mikel Astarloza +0:07
42. Egoi Martinez +0:07
47. Haimar Zubeldia +0:07
48. Gorka Verdugo +0:18
74. Amets Txurruka +0:39
106. Ruben Perez +1:12
126. Iñaki Isasi +2:00
154. Juan Jose Oroz +2:00

France + New Laptop

I'm going to France for a couple of days and I will be back on saturday. This means I will have to miss the start of the Tour and that's crap :( After that, on monday, I will get a new laptop so hopefully I will be able to update my blog more.

Spanis Championships : Egoi 23rd

Before the race there were some line-up changes for Euskaltel. Koldo, Anton and Iñigo Landaluze all pulled out. This meant that Euskaltel's hope was on sprinter Aitor Galdos or a break. In the race Euskaltel could never impress. Luengo and Irizar went in a break to chase Valverde and some other early breakaways down, but this didn't work out. Valverde won the national jersey, Sevilla became seconds, Pereiro third. Egoi Martinez was the first Euskaltel to finish on a 23rd place.

Results
1 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Caisse d'Epargne) 5.13.13 (38,829 km/h)
2 Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) 0.01
3 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Caisse d'Epargne) 1.04
...
23. Egoi Martinez +1:54
53. Javier Aramendia +20:08
63. Amets Txurruka +20:08
71. Josu Agirre +20:08

Computer problems

I haven't been able to update my blog in a while because I'm having some computer problems. I can't access sites like google, altavista and blogger but for now blogger works :D

Irizar 9th in TT Spain

Euskaltel couldn't bring the national TT title to the Basque Country. It was Luis Leon Sanchez who rode a great time trial and beat Ruben Plaza and Jose Ivan Gutierrez. Marke Irizar was the best rider from Euskaltel on a 9th place. Egoi Martinez ended on a 17th place, Josu Agirre on 18th.

Results
1. Luis Leon Sanchez Caisse d'Epargne 32:59
2. Ruben Plaza Benfica +0:16
3. Jose Ivan Gutierrez Caisse d'Eparrgne +0:56
...
9. Markel Irizar +1:32
17. Egoi Martinez +2:31
18. Josu Agirre +2:36

Interview with Haimar in AS

Haimar talked to the spanish newspaper AS and here's the translation of the article.

-With 9 days before te start, how do you feel ?
Good, I rode a new preparation and I think it was a good choice. I rode the Tour of Romandy, the Dauphiné Libéré and the Volta a Catalunya and I have reached a good form. I'm going to do some more training sessions befor going to France.

-Have you studied the route of the Tour 2008 ?
After the Dauphiné I explored together with Sanchez, Astarloza and Isasi some of the new climbs in the Alps. In addition, we've also been two days in the Pyrenees and explored the stage over the Tourmalet to Hautacam and the one over the Peyresourde to Aspin.

-You are known for your good time trial, but after the Dauphiné it seems like the climbs become more your thing.
I'm not happy with the crono in that race. Nevertheless I was good in the mountains. I believe that the Tour is won by doing well on the climbs and being regular in the time trials.

-Are you at the top of your carreer now ?
I'm older now. I'm in my eleventh year of professional cycling now. It will be my 8th Tour, the same as my team Euskaltel.

-Will you be the leader of the team ?
I will share the leadership with Mikel and Samuel, who wants to be in form for the Olympic Games in Beijing. Mikel has a lot of experience in the Tour too and the Tour comes at a good moment. We have a balanced team and this way the pressure isn't on one person.

-Who do you think are the favourite for the victory ?
Cadel Evans has the biggest opportunity to win the Tour. We've also seen a very good Valverde in the Dauphiné, he will certainly fight for the general rank. Hopefully we can manage to get on the podium.

-What do you think about Contador not being able to defend his title ?
From the beginning I thought it was an incorrect decision. I believe that in the Tour de France should be the best riders. Alberto's new team has to pay for what happened last year.

-This year your contract with Euskaltel finishes. What crosses your mind at the moment ?
At the moment only the Tour de France is on my mind. I'll have to ride a good Tour because my future might depend on it.