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.

Sergio de Lis joins Euskaltel

It came as a suprise, but Euskaltel has hired another rider for the upcoming season. Sergio de Lis was the chosen one, a 22-year old promising rider from San Sebastian. Last year he rode for Orbea and in the Circuito Montañes he became second in the second stage and wore the leaders jersey for two days.
Hopefully he will be able to impress the staff of Euskaltel and all of us. Of course I wish him all the best for the upcoming season!

Aketza 5th in Colindres

I know Aketza Peña isn't part of the Euskaltel squad anymore, but I would like to continue following him in his cyclocross adventures, because I know that you all still carry a warm heart towards him and wish him all the best.

This saturday Aketza started his cyclocross tour in Colindres. From the begining he got in the right break of five and together with great riders as Yus, Suarez, Eladio Sanchez and Diez, he battled it out for the victory. Unfortunately in the last round, Aketza had to let go and became fifth. Still a nice performance and this offers prospects for the next races!

Aketza Peña goes cyclocross

I hope you all remember Aketa Peña because his carreer apparently ain't over. After he was freed from all the stuff about him and doping, he tried to get a contract for this year but that didn't work out, so he has a new plan ready. This winter he will ride in the spanish cyclocross races! He announced this in a press conference and said that he's quite talented for this. He also found a few sponsors that want to help him out with the costs, now hopefully the results will follow. He will ride the races of the Torneo Spiuk de Euskadi, la Copa Cantabra, la Copa de España and Campeonato de España.

It will be an interesting cyclo cross season with both Aketa and Beñat competing, and maybe like last year some others too. Hopefully they will get some good results!

Koldo 4th best Spaniard

It came as quite a surprise to me, but if you look at wins in 2008, our Koldo Fernandez de Larrea is the 4th Spaniard. With his wins in Castilly y Leon, Murcia, Bizikleta, Burgos and Vendée, Koldo

was only outshined by big winners Alejandro Valverde, Alberto Contador and Oscar Freire.

If you ask me, Koldo didn't live up to his potential as he let some really big chances go this year. He still misses a big win too so there's still room for improvement next year.

Samu present at Fiesta de la Bici

Olympic Champion Samuel Sanchez will together with Alberto Contador be present at the Fiesta de la Bici this sunday. The Fiesta de la Bici is, if I'm not mistaken, an open race for everyone where you can ride next to the present professional riders. So everyone to Derio next sunday!

Fired riders update

The four riders that didn't get a contract for 2009 have all been very active the last weeks to get a contract. None of them was capable to get one yet, but here's an update about where they are standing now:

• Lander Aperribay: After two years with Euskaltel, Lander couldn't convince a team to get a contract and has retired from pro-cycling. He's now working in the commercial department of Etxe-ondo, an Euskaltel clothing sponsor.
• Beñat Albizuri: Beñat isn't happy with his dismissal, he feels neglected and unappreciated by the team. He's now going to try it in the cyclo-cross world and feels very motivated about this. His representative is of course also searching for a 'real' cycling team.
• Jon Bru & Dioni Galparsoro: Jon and Dioni are both hoping on their old Kaiku team leader Óscar Guerrero. He might be able to set up a newt team for next year and the two would get a place there. Hopefully this become true!

Euskaltel ready for 2009

Euskaltel has announced it's full team for 2009. This means that no other rider will be added, so no contract for Gaztañaga, Castroviejo and others. Next year there will be 22 riders, these are the ones that stay : Agirre, Anton, Aramendia, Astarloza, Azanza, Fernandez, Galdos, Hernandez, Irizar, Isasi, Lafuente, Landaluze, Martinez, Oroz, A. Perez, R. Perez, Sanchez, Txurruka, Velasco and Verdugo. The new boys are of course Pablo Urtasun and Mikel Nieve.

We all know Haimar is going to Astana and Antton Luengo retires. This still means that 4 riders are without a contract for next year, these are Beñat Albizuri, Dioni Galparsoro, Lander Aperribay and Jon Bru. Hopefully they will get a team for 2009!

Piemonte & Lombardia : The final races

The Euskaltel boys couldn't deliver another win for the team in the last two races of the season in Italy. In the Giro del Piemonte Javier and Iñigo tried to get away with 20 kilometres to go, but it didn't work out. It came down to a sprint but without a real sprinter, Euskaltel didn't have a chance. Alan rode a fine sprint and became 13th, Markel 23th, Javier 27th and Ivan 28th. Samuel had to give up because of some problems with his knee but everything was fine for sunday.

In Lombardia we could see that Samuel didn't have real issues with his knee, but he didn't have the same great form as in the summer anymore. When Cunego and three others escaped, he was the first to join them in the descent and he lead the chase after Cunego, but when they were reeled back in, he fell back and finished in the back.

Piemonte Results
1 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas 4.57.15 (40.168 km/h)
2 Luca Paolini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo
3 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R La Mondiale
...
13. Alan Perez ST
23. Markel Irizar ST
27. Javier Aramendia ST
28. Ivan Velasco ST
50. Aitor Hernandez ST
134. Iñigo Landaluze +12:41
140. Josu Agirre +12:41

Lombardia Results
1 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 5.37.04 (43.078 km/h)
2 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana 0.24
3 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Caisse d'Epargne
...
27. Samuel Sanchez +1:34
42. Ivan Velasco +3:17
50. Alan Perez +5:52
51. Iñigo Landaluze +5:52

Euskaltel for Lombardia and Piemonte

The last two official races for Euskaltel will be held this week and as predicted, Samuel Sanchez will be the team leader. The ones that will need to help him are Iñigo Landaluze, Ivan Velasco, Alan Perez, Markel Irizar, Aitor Hernandez, Josu Agirre and Javier Aramendia. With Samu's third place last year, it should be possible to get another victory this year. But I would even prefer one of the other guys winning cause we desperately need someone else that can win!