Euskaltel roster not finalized

The roster for the coming season have not been made official. Currently, Euskaltel have 27 riders under contract for next season. That could turn 28 if Roberto Laiseka decides to ride for another year. Though, each team in the Pro Tour are allowed to have up to 30 riders, so to add a couple more riders is not unthinkable. Euskaltel were made up of 28 riders this season, but rumours have it that Madariaga and Gonzalez de Galdeano are keen on a 30-men strong roster for 2007. Possible new riders could be Pedro Arreitunandia of Barloworld, the Osa brothers of the previous Liberty Seguros team, though they have to be cleared in the Operacion Puerto case if that is to be an option, Kaiku`s Bru and Urtasun Perez and perhaps also earlier Euskaltel rider Mikel Pradera of Caisse d`Epargne-Illes Balears. But, I have to remind you folks, it`s just rumours.

So far, Euskaltel have added the very good all-rounder Mikel Astarloza, promising sprinter Galdos Alonso, the brilliant Jorge Azanza, talented climber Ametz Txurruka, previous Euskaltel rider Galparsoro and the amazingly talented neo-pros Aperribay and Lafuente. Though, I`d have loved to see Arreitunandia in an Euskaltel shirt...