Haimar to ride Tour and Vuelta

As you can see on the picture, Haimar is having a grea time at the Astana training camp in Tenerife. Unfortunately they still didn't give him a team jersey so he looks a bit 'stupid' just like Popovych and Armstrong (btw what is he pointing at? :p). At the training camp they also reveiled the goals of their riders and Haimar's goal was to ride good races in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, the Tour de France and the Vuelta d'España. He'll probably be the leader in Pais Vasco, but a helper in the Tour and in the Vuelta he will get the role of second/third man.

Egoi Martinez' own website!

After his great performances in the Vuelta d'España, Egoi Martinez finally got his own personal website. On www.egoimartinez.com you can find some fun stuff to read about Egoi like a biography, a diary and other cool things. One thing that is lacking, an english part of course! (I would gladly translate it if they ask me :p).

I was looking through some sites and realised that there aren't enough fan sites for the Euskaltel guys yet so I would like to make a call for all website makers and fans of Euskaltel to support our orange boys! Here's a list with the sites I know of:

• www.egoimartinez.com
• www.haimarzubeldia.com
• www.josuagirre.net
• www.markelirizar.com
• http://landa.comphost.info/ (Iñigo Landaluze)
• www.astarloza.com
• www.samusanchez.com
• www.jorgeazanza.com

Two newbies go Down Under

Due to the ProTour license wich Euskaltel just received, they are obligated to send out a team Down Under to the heat of Australia. In the 7-men squad , two newbies will represent Euskaltel for the first time. Pablo Urtasun and Sergio de Lis will try to impress us early in the season together with Josu Agirre, Iñaki Isasi, Andoni Lafuente, Markel Irizar and Aitor Hernandez. It's not a team with a strong leader, but some of them might be able to get in a break or take some points for a classification.

I'm back for more + update

The examinations are finally over, the results are in, I'm not too happy with them but I'm quite pleased with my 44/45 on my english exam *proud*. This means that I will again have some time to update my blog!!!

It seems like I didn't miss too much, the only things that reached me are that Jon Bru retired :(, Samuel Sanchez will participate in the GP Miguel Indurain on the 4th of april and ... Euskaltel got their ProTour license for 2009 and 2010 *yes*, but they won't ride the Giro *boooeee*.

Examination period

You probably already noticed that I didn't really have much time to update my blog anymore, cause I've been super busy with school the last weeks. Now that the examination period will start this friday, I won't be able to update my blog. Of course there won't happen much, but you can stay updated by checking http://ibanmayoblog.blogspot.com, www.wvcycling.com or www.biciciclismo.com.

Aitor Seconds in Memorial

Aitor Galdos became second in the Memorial Isabel Clavera, a race in Los Rozas, a suburb of Madrid. Hector Guerra took the victory home and Alberto Fernandez de la Puebla became third.

Yes, we got it!

After some hesitations and a terrifying waiting period, it's now official that Euskaltel will maintain his ProTour license for the next year. I'm not sure for wich races this ProTour license grants the start right, but it's better than waiting every time for it. This also means that Euskaltel will have to come to the Tour of Flandres and other Belgian races, so I can see them once again :)

Criterium Mitos del Ciclismo de Cafés Baqué

As you all can imagine, Euskaltel was omnipresent at the Criterium Mitos del Ciclismo de Cafés Baqué. Our two sprinters, Aitor Galdos and Koldo Fernandez did both a good job. Koldo just missed out on the victory in the points race, losing to Ricardo Serrano, but Aitor Galdos managed to win the elimination race in front of Iker Camaño and Iban Mayoz. There was also a race for the real 'myths' which was won by Miguel Indurain.

Dioni Galparsoro finds new team

It's raining good news for Euskaltel fans these days. After the news about Samu and the contract for Aketza Peña, now Dioni Galparsoro has found a new team too. Next year he will ride for Contentpolis-Murcia or Murcia-AMPO, the new name. Together with three other basques Aitor Perez, Mikel Gaztañaga and Gorka Izagirre. Good luck!

Sanchez for Vuelta 2009

Samuel Sanchez has announced his goals for 2009. He will skip the Tour de France and will concentrate on the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, the big Vuelta and the World Championships. Samu is convinced that he can win the Vuelta after his third place in 2007. He will also go to San Diego to ameliorise his time trial skills in a wind tunnel.

Aketza Peña finds a team

Aketza Peña will finally be able to leave all his past problems behind cause he has finally found a team. In 2009 he will ride for the Portuguese team Cartaxo-Capital, lead by Renato Silva. Of course Aketza was very happy with this contract as he said to biciciclismo 'To find a team is a great triumph for me because my situation was very difficult.' Apparently he has to thank his training mate José Antonio Garrido for this contract, cause he would have helped him to get in this new team too. I'm looking forward to what he will be able to show us next year!

Euskaltel present at 'Mitos del Ciclismo'

A lot ofr riders from Euskaltel will be present at the criterium Mitos del Ciclismo this weekend. Haimar Zubeldia, Koldo Fernandez, Iñigo Landaluze, Aitor Galdos, Ruben Perez, Dioni Galparsoro, Beñat Albizuri and Amets Txurruka will all participate in the race together with myths like Miguel Indurain, Marino Lejaretta and Joseba Beloki, but also a lot of ex-riders like Etxebarria, Mayoz, Herrero, Uribarri, Laiseka and I probably forget some others.

No contract for Koldo Gil

News Flash: After the message that Koldo Gil might come to Euskaltel, there came a quick reaction that he wouldn't get a contract with the team next year.

Koldo Gil applies for job with Euskaltel

The very talented climber Koldo Gil Perez has applied for a contract with Euskaltel next year. The Basque from Navarre doesn't have a contract yet for 2009 and called Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano. He said it would become difficult because normally there were no places left in the orange squad. But Igor would think about it.

Of course Koldo Gil would be a great rider to add some wins for the team, but there are still these rumours about him and doctor Fuentes, and that could have a negative effect on the team.

Euskaltel short news : Azanza - Samu - Aketza

• After breaking his collarbone in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco last year, Jorge Azanza has now the metal plate in his shoulder removed. Everything went well during the operation and he good go back home immediately.
• Because of his great personality, Samuel Sanchez has won the Premio Delfos del deporte. This prize was awarded this friday by the Asociación de Amigos del Deporte.
• The Euskaltel riders will go on their first training camp from the 23th till the 27th november in Derio. Here they will try to decide who will ride where. talk to the media and do some medical examinations.
• Aketza Peña became third in the ciclo-cross de Las Regueras in the Asturias. He finished after Isaac Suarez and José Diez, but in front of great riders like Unai Yus and Eladio Sanchez.