Igor Antón - The polkadots? Yeah, why not?

Seemingly born to climb mountains, Igor Antón is the kind of rider you picture donning the famous polkadots at the Tour.

On his day he's one of the best climbers around, capable of going on those epic, long-rage attacks in the high mountains that make watching bike races such a memorable pastime. When not on his day, though, he often lacks the consistency that is the hallmark of Grand Tour champions.

With the Tour de France just around the corner, the timing was apt to ask the bona fide escalador if he one day pictures himself wearing the climber's jersey.

"It a jersey that's very prestigious and hard to get hold of, but I do think I can wear it one day. Why not?", he tells Basque Cycling News. "The climbs suit me well, so I could be a candidate one day.

"My team-mate Samuel Sánchez won it in 2011, and it was a big thing and very important for the team".

If he one day is to challenge for the polkadots, he'll first have to find the recipe for success at the Grand Boucle.

The 30-year-old has only taken part twice - and he struggled on both occasions. In 2007 he decided to call it quits on stage 11 after looking off colour since the off, while he would only finish 66th two years later. He's found success in Grand Tours elsewhere, though, taking four stages in the Vuelta and a memorable one at Zoncolan in the Giro.

"The Tour is different", he says. "It's at a different time of year (compared to the other Grand Tours), but above all it's pivotal to get to the race in good shape, and I haven't been able to do that yet. On both occasions the first week took it's toll, and I never reached 100 percent. When you get such a start it's hard to get better during the race.

"At the Tour you get the best teams and the best riders, everyone's motivated and everyone's in shape, so it's very hard to shine. First of all I need to get into my best shape and get the preparations spot on".

Naturally, his big goal in the race is to "reach top form", and, if he succeeds in that, to "fight for stage wins in the mountains".

Antón recently finished 12th at the Tour de Suisse, the last dress rehearsal, save for the national championships, before the Grand départ. 

According to himself, he's on the right path.

"After peaking for the first time in April, I rested a bit to prepare for the second part of the season. I've improved steadily, and I noticed that I'd improved a lot in Switzerland. There's still 12 days to go, though, so I'll rest a bit and then hopefully improve a bit more before and during the race".

In France, Antón will spearhead Euskaltel alongside Mikel Nieve.

Photo: BCPT

Bagües shows promise in France

Aritz Bagües showed he's growing in stature as a professional bike rider by claiming a noteworthy fifth overall at the Boucles de la Mayenne in France last week.

David Veilleux of Europcar, so impressive at the recent Critérium du Dauphiné, unsurprisingly came away with the overall win at the end of the four days of racing, while Euskadi's 23-year-old all-rounder ended up just four seconds off the podium in fifth.

Key to his general classification result was his eighth place on the hard second stage from Laval to Évron. Unai Iparraguirre's two top ten placings, not to mention Haritz Orbe's ninth on stage three, made it a race to remember for the Continenal-ranked outfit.

Team-wise, Euskadi ended up third.

Photo: Iñaki Azanza

National champs: Basque youth teams picked

With the Tour de France less than two weeks away, it's time for the national championships to commence.

The Spanish nationals will be held in Bembibre, Castilla y León, this upcoming weekend, running Thursday 20 through Sunday 23. T

The Basque Cycling Federation has picked its sub-23 teams for both the road race and time trials.

Here goes:

Sub-23, road race:

• Ibai Daboz (Gipuzkoa-Eki Sport)
• Egoitz Fernández (Seguros Bilbao)
• Peio Goikoetxea (Cafés Baqué-Conservas Campos)
• Alain González (Naturgas Energía)
• Unai Intziarte (Gipuzkoa-Eki Sport)
• Ander Plazaola (Lizarte)
• Aitor Rey (Seguros Bilbao)
• Paul Usabel (Cafés Baqué-Conservas Campos)

Reserves: Jon Odriozola (Gipuzkoa-Eki Sport), Imanol Estévez (Naturgas Energía)

Sub-23, time trial:

• Aitor Rey (Seguros Bilbao)
• Peio Goikoetxea (Cafés Baqué-Conservas Campos)
• Ibai Daboz (Gipuzkoa-Eki Sport)

Reserve: Imanol Estévez (Naturgas Energía)

Technical staff: Ángel Balzola (team coach), Jon Iturria (mechanic) and Igor Romero (masseur).

Women, road race:

• Dorleta Eskamendi (Bizkaia-Durango)
• Eider Merino (Lointek)
• Irene Usabiaga (Lointek)
• Mireia Epelde (SC Michela Fanini)
• Irene San Sebastián (Bizkaia-Durango)
• Ane Santesteban (Bizkaia-Durango)
• Ana Usabiaga (Lointek)

Women, time trial:

• Irene Usabiaga (Lointek)
• Irene San Sebastián (Bizkaia-Durango)
• Ana Usabiaga (Lointek)

Euskaltel conclude Luxembourg on a low

Two riders abandoned as Euskaltel closed out the Tour of Luxembourg with a low-key final stage on Sunday.

Local prodigy Bob Jungels was crowned the victor of the last stage despite being handed a 10-second general classification penalty for taking a advantage of a good old-fashiond hand-sling, Madison-style, from team-mate Danilo Hondo in the final hundred metres. Paul Martens of Team Blanco moved up from third on GC to claim the final overall triumph.

The Euskaltel riders didn't manage to make the cut in the finale, Ioannis Tamouridis being the team's top man in 40th, almost three minutes in arrears. Overall, Rubén Pérez's 35th was the team's best result.

German Steffen Radochla and Tour hopeful Pablo Urtasun both posted DNFs.

Results:

• (1, Bob Jungels (RadioShack), 3:24:39)
• 40, Ioannis Tamouridis, 2:50
• 51, Rubén Pérez, 3:46
• 65, Jon Aberasturi, 6:31
• 75, Juan José Lobato, 6:44
• DNF: Steffen Radochla, Pablo Urtasun

Final general classification:

• (1, Paul Martens (Blanco), 16:45:38)
• 35, Rubén Pérez, 6:53
• 40, Juan José Lobato, 9:42
• 62, Ioannis Tamouridis, 19:43
• 73, Jon Aberasturi, 23:44

Photo: BCPT

Izagirre bang on track for Tour debut

On the final day of the Tour de Suisse, Ion Izagirre showed he's on track to replicate that resounding Giro d'Italia of 2012 performance when he embarks on his maiden Tour de France in two weeks' time.

Last year's Italian Grand Tour of course saw the youngest of the Izagirre brothers come away with a stage win in his very first three-week race, and hopes will be high he can conjure up something special at the French equivalent after his strong final-day ride in Switzerland.

The 26,8km hill time trial to the top of the Flumserberg would decide the outcome of the WorldTour race, and, unexpectedly, Movistar's Rui Costa emerged victorious both on the day and overall to defend his title from last year.

Izagirre, though, who'd been keeping a low profile up until today, powered his way to 11th on the day, even leading the race at one point. The 24-year-old bested riders like Tejay van Garderen, Peter Velits, Daniel Martin and Michele Scarponi, to name but a few, and is thus likely to depart for Corsica with a certain degree of confidence.

Igor Antón, also using the race to fine-tune his shape for the Grand Boucle, came in 16th on Sunday, and finished the race just outside the top ten on GC.

Results:

• (1, Rui Costa (Movistar), 51:56)
• 11, Ion Izagirre, 1:27
• 16, Igor Antón, 1:52
• 59, Gorka Verdugo, 4:36
• 69, Juan José Oroz, 5:16
• 71, Robert Vrecer, 5:22
• 72, Jorge Azanza, 5:31
• 84, Ricardo Mestre, 6:40
• 94, Adrián Sáez, 7:10

Final general classification:

• (1, Rui Costa (Movistar), 31:08:11)
• 12, Igor Antón, 5:10
• 34, Ion Izagirre, 21:53
• 43, Juan José Oroz, 27:58
• 46, Gorka Verdugo, 30:05
• 55, Jorge Azanza, 36:31
• 95, Adrián Sáez, 1:00:06
• 119, Ricardo Mestre, 1:10:53
• 126, Robert Vrecer, 1:15:13

Photo: BCPT

Vrecer bags TWO jerseys in Tour de Suisse

Robert Vrecer showed his versatility and all-round ability by winning both the mountains and the sprints classification at the Tour de Suisse on Saturday.

With tomorrow's ninth and concluding stage being a hill time trial, today's 180,5km stage from Zernez to Bad Ragaz would decide the winner of those particular competitions.

The Slovenian laid the groundwork by infiltrating the break of the day, before going on to secure both jerseys by winning an intermediate sprint and cresting the deciding cat.1 climb of Julierpass first.

It was an impressive return from the 32-year-old and a most needed on at that considering Euskaltel's lack of success at the race this year.

Today's eighth stage showed improvement, though, as the trio of Ion Izagirre, Jorge Azanza and Igor Antón all made it to the finish inside the 34-man lead group that was led across the line by, you guessed it, that man Peter Sagan.

Heading into Sunday's hill climb, Antón is the team's best rider on GC in 12th - a minute and 20 seconds off the top ten.

Results:

• (1, Peter Sagan (Cannondale), 4:33:26)
• 16, Ion Izagirre, s.t.
• 21, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 27, Jorge Azanza, s.t.
• 44, Juan José Oroz, 1:04
• 81, Ricardo Mestre, 3:53
• 94, Gorka Verdugo, s.t.
• 119, Robert Vrecer, 5:47
• 135, Adrián Sáez, s.t.

Photo: BCPT

Euskaltel caught out in Luxembourg - again

For the second day running, Euskaltel missed the train in the Tour of Luxembourg.

Just like on stage two, Giacomo Nizzolo of RadioShack sprinted to the win on stage three. And, again like on stage two, the Euskaltel speedsters were found wanting when the pace was upped towards the end.

A 30-rider group was left to duke it out at the end of what was regarded as the race's queen-stage, a 178,8km ride from Eschweiler to Diekirch, but no riders in orange made the cut.

The team's top man was Rubén Pérez in 37th - a minute and a half in arrears

Results:

• (1, Giacomo Nizzolo (RadioShack), 4:25:59)
• 37, Rubén Pérez, 1:29
• 48, Juan José Lobato, 2:23
• 63, Jon Aberasturi, 7:18
• 67, Ioannis Tamouridis, s.t.
• 111, Pablo Urtasun, 13:29
• 112, Steffen Radochla, s.t.

Insausti edges Goikoetxea to Euskadi crown

Caja Rural's Jon Ander Insausti gave proof of his undoubted potential by winning the Eukadi sub-23 time trial championships on Saturday.

The former Bidelan-Kirolgi rider took 32 minutes and 26 seconds to complete the course in Gopegi, Álava - seven seconds less than runner-up Peio Goikoetxea of Cafés Baqué-Conservas Campos.

Already the reigning sub-23 champion of his home region, Gipuzkoa, Saturday's triumph is his first of the year.

Insausti's former team-mate Beñat Txoperena of Gipuzkoa-Eki Sport claimed the last place on the podium, while Ibai Daboz and Loïc Chetout rounded out the top five.

In the elite category, Iván González emerged triumphant.

Results, elite:

• 1, Iván González (Foronda CDC), 33:13
• 2, Asier Maeztu (Gipuzkoa-Eki Sport), 0:02

Results, sub-23:

• 1, Jon Ander Insausti (Caja Rural), 32:26
• 2, Peio Goikoetxea (Cafés Baqué-Conservas Campos), 0:07
• 3, Beñat Txoperena (Gipuzkoa-Eki Sport), 0:38
• 4, Ibai Daboz (Gipuzkoa-Eki Sport), 0:39
• 5, Loïc Chetout (Naturgas Energía), s.t.

Photo: Iñaki Azanza

Iker Flores - Those were glorious years

Results-wise, the first half of 2013 have been one of the worst in the recent history of Euskaltel. If you're rooting for the riders in orange, you'd be forgiven for feeling a bit disillusioned with the Tour de France just around the corner.

It was an altogether different atmosphere surrounding the team ten years ago. Ibán Mayo had just dominated the opposition in the Vuelta al País Vasco and given Lance Armstrong an almighty scare with a masterful performance at the Dauphiné, while Davíd Etxebarría and David Herrero had picked up a win each in races on the national calendar. And then of course you had the likes of Haimar Zubeldia, Robert Laiseka, Iñigo Landaluze, Unai Etxebarría and a young Samuel Sánchez to call on.

Also in the team ranks back then were the brothers Flores, Igor and Iker. Both were mainstays of the team around the turn of the century, and the latter had shown immense promise by etching his name into the history books of the Tour de l'Avenir in 2000, the race affectionately known as the junior version of the Tour de France. None made the team in 2003, but both went on to complete the Tour in the years following that memorable edition.

Two weeks ahead of the Grand Départ, we caught up with Iker to hear what it was like to be a part of arguably the best Euskaltel team in history.

"Those were bad years. The truth is that Mayo, Zubeldia, Laiseka and those guys were bad people. No, no, no, I'm just kidding!", the now 36-year-old tells Basque Cycling News. "The truth is that those were very good years. I have to say that, with the group of guys we had, we all had a very good time. I have good memories of all of them.

"Those were glorious years for Euskaltel - there were so many great riders".

Do you still keep in touch with your former team-mates?

"Not with everyone. We've all gone our separate ways, but with some, like Gorka Verdugo, Egoi Martínez, Koldo Fernández de Larrea and some masseurs, yeah, we stay in touch. Some because they're close by, some I keep in touch with over the phone.

"When I meet up with one of my former team-mates, the truth is there's still that same feeling between us as when we used to ride together", he explains.

In his third and final Tour de France appearance in 2005, Iker finished dead last, or as the lantern rouge if you want. His brother did the same three years prior, and to date they remain the only brothers to have finished at the bottom of the general classification at the Grand Boucle.

In 2000, he finished at the very opposite end of the results sheet at the Tour de l'Avenir. It was to be his only professional win, and, not surprisingly, besting the likes of David Moncoutié and Floyd Landis to the prestigious overall crown ranks as one of his greatest moments on the bike.

"It was perhaps the best moment of my sporting career", he says 13 years later. "It's my only win, I was still very young back then, and I'd just started out as a professional, so to win a race that prestigious brought me much joy".

After hanging up his bike at the end of the 2007 season, Igor's become a father of two and now makes a living of selling cycling wear. He doesn't go riding too often these days, he admits, preferring to stay in shape through the more time-efficient sport of running.

Looking back at his career, the amicable younger Flores says he's pleased with what he achieved on two wheels.

"I think I achieved what I was capable of. When I was given the opportunity to ride for my own chances, I responded with performances within my means. When I was asked to work for the team, I gave it my all and dedicated myself fully so that my team-mates could win. I never minded working for other riders. I think that was my role, and it's a satisfying feeling when a team-mate you've worked for wins a race.

"I'm pleased with how I did. I can say that I've done the biggest races on the professional calendar. I'm not bitter towards anyone or anything,  because I dedicated myself to the sport for nine years to the best of my abilities", he concludes.

Photo: Capture the Peloton

Euskaltel caught off guard in Luxembourg

Euskaltel and their speedy riders missed out on a golden opportunity in the Tour of Luxembourg on Friday.

The 173km second stage from Schifflange to Walferdange was ideally suited for the sprinters, but as the pack split up on the run-in the riders in orange were left behind.

Giacomo Nizzolo handed RadioShack a second win in two days following Gregory Rast's success in Switzerland on Thursday, while Juan José Lobato, so impressive yesterday, was forced to make do with 39th place 25 seconds down.

Results:

• (1, Giacomo Nizzolo (Radioshack), 4:10:24)
• 39, Juan José Lobato, 0:25
• 55, Pablo Urtasun, 0:57
• 64, Rubén Pérez, 1:25
• 85, Ioannis Tamouridis, 9:18
• 105, Jon Aberasturi, s.t.
• 125, Steffen Radochla, 12:45

Photo: BCPT

Antón out-climbed in the Swiss mountains

Igor Antón didn't manage to stay with the very best on Friday's queen-stage in the Tour de Suisse, but still showed he's in decent shape a fortnight before the Tour kick-off.

The seventh stage, a very hilly 206km ride from Meilen to La Punt taking in the HC-ranked Albulapass, was taken out by Movistar's defending champion Rui Costa. The Portuguese out-sprinted Bauke Mollema and Tejay van Garderen from a select group that had formed over the aforementioned climb topping out ten clicks from the finish.

Euskaltel's main man, upcoming co-leader of the team at the Tour de France, Igor Antón, was never able to go with the accelerations on the final climb, but he did stay within touching distance and came across the line in 13th place, less than a minute in arrears.

While he's undoubtedly lacking another ten percent or so of his absolute peek form, the affable climber nonetheless seems to have found the basic level of form needed to be competitive in France in July.

Juan José Oroz and Ion Izagirre, both in with a shot at a Tour start berth, flattered to deceive, though, the two coming in over five and eight minutes down respectively.

Adrián Sáez, who's been aggressive all year, again put on a battling display, infiltrating the break of the day and making a daring move off the front of that group at the base of the Albulapass.

Results:

• (1, Rui Costa (Movistar), 5:11:08)
• 13, Igor Antón, 0:49
• 35, Juan José Oroz, 5:27
• 46, Ion Izagirre, 8:55
• 56, Jorge Azanza, 10:08
• 76, Gorka Verdugo, 17:15
• 77, Adrián Sáez, s.t.
• 94, Ricardo Mestre, 21:59

Photo: Orbea

Lobato racks up yet another podium

Juan José Lobato picked up his third podium placing in a little over three weeks in the first stage of the Tour of Luxembourg on Thursday.

The 183,8km leg from Luxembourg to Hautcharage was taken out by Katusha's Alexander Porsev, the Russian out-sprinting Milan-San Remo victor Gerald Ciolek and Euskaltel's Lobato.

Lobato, fresh off a second and a third place in the Bayern Rundfahrt late last month, was helped out in the final kilometres by a number of his team-mates, and in the end he had enough gas in the tank to land the last step on the podium.

Speaking post-stage, the team's sports director Álex Díaz was content with the day's work.

"The team did a good job", he told Euskaltel Euskadi's website. "We assumed control of the peloton in the final clicks, but we came across rivals who also did a good job. We've got three more opportunities ahead of us, and, if we keep working like we did today, we'll be in with a shout of a win".

André Schulze's wretched first year with the team continued apace on Thursday, the German abandoning his fourth race of the year. The ProRace Berlin five days ago, in which he came in 110th, is the only race he's completed this season.

Results:

• (1, Alexander Porsev (Katusha), 4:40:50)
• 3, Juan José Lobato, s.t.
• 15, Ioannis Tamouridis, s.t.
• 22, Rubén Pérez, s.t.
• 24, Jon Aberasturi, s.t.
• 72, Pablo Urtasun, s.t.
• 125, Steffen Radochla, 2:55

Photo: BCPT

Vrecer keeps jersey for another day

With three stages to go, Robert Vrecer is still proudly donning the mountains jersey in the Tour de Suisse.

Thursday's sixth leg, 186 clicks from Leuggern to Meilen, was an altogether uncomplicated day in the saddle for the Slovenian and his team-mates.

A quartet was allowed to go up the road and fight it out between them for the stage win, meaning all Vrecer had to do was to sit tight and just finish the stage. Still on 19 points, he leads the classification seven points ahead of Saxo-Tinkoff's Roman Kreuziger.

Sit tight his team-mates did as well. Heading into the decisive last days of the race, Igor Antón is the team's best placed rider on GC in 21st.

Results:

• (1, Gregory Rast (RadioShack Leopard), 4:23:53)
• 56, Gorka Verdugo, 10:43
• 57, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 67, Juan José Oroz, s.t.
• 90, Jorge Azanza, s.t.
• 97, Adrián Sáez, s.t.
• 112, Robert Vrecer, s.t.
• 143, Ion Izagirre, s.t.
• 155, Ricardo Mestre, 15:37

Photo: Euskaltel Euskadi

Urtasun starts comeback

Pablo Urtasun made his first competitive outing since crashing out of the Giro d'Italia in early May on Wednesday.

In the 2,5km prologue of the Tour de Luxembourg, the speedy veteran came in a solid 41st - one second down on the team's best rider on the day, JJ Lobato.

Results:

• (1, Jimmy Engoulvent (Sojasun), 3:42)
• 37, Juan José Lobato, 0:14
• 41, Pablo Urtasun, 0:15
• 56, Rubén Pérez, 0:18
• 78, Ioannis Tamouridis, 0:21
• 82, Steffen Radochla, 0:22
• 98, André Schulze, 0:27
• 128, Jon Aberasturi, 0:41