Orbea ready for 2007

Joseba Zumeta

Continental team Orbea, Euskaltel`s feeder-team, have almost completed their roster for next season. Their budget will be in the region of 650 000 Euros, partly funded by the Fundacion Euskadi. Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano will be their new directeur sportif , and, by now, Orbea have signed five new riders; Javier Aramendia from Caja Rural, who will join Euskaltel in 2007, David Martín and Asier Fernández from Cafés Baqué, Igor Romero from Debabarrena and Juan José Oroz from Kaiku. A total of six riders who were present at the start of last season, have left. Alan Perez joined Euskaltel from Orbea in mid-June, and Euskaltel recently signed Iván Velasco. Further, Gustavo Domínguez will join new-team Karpin-Galicia, while Dailos Diaz joins Fuerteventura-Canarias. Vidal Celis and Gorka Amuriza were not offered new contracts. Riders continuing with Orbea will be Josu Agirre, Xabat Otxotorena, Iñigo Lazkano, Iker Mezo, Julen Zubero, Joseba Zumeta, Iván Melero, Brad Armstrong and Aaron Villegas. That will make for a total of 14 riders officialy under contract with Orbea for 2007.