Saturday, November 17, 2007

Euskaltel set for Tour and Vuelta; Giro unsecure

According to news reports in October, Euskaltel are virtually assured of taking part in the Tour and the Vuelta next year. As the much-criticiced Pro Tour concept will be revamped for 2008, due to the Tour's, the Giro's and the Vuelta's backers refusing to abide by the UCI's rules, ASO, Unipublic and RCS, the organisers of the three Grand Tours, will have the possibility to pick any team they want, theoretically, to take part. This means that no team is assured of a starting berth next year, but Euskaltel have, according to rumours anyway, received an oral invitation to all three races. Euskaltel will no doubt ride the Tour and the Vuelta, of course, but it's not unlikely that Euskaltel will give the Giro a miss. Euskaltel have never fielded any of their big stars in Italy in hope of getting any results, most of the time just to get fit. I think that, given an invitation, they should take part. Getting through a three-week race would be invaluable experience to any rider, not least Euskaltel's young and untested riders. After having come through a three-week race you know what pro cycling at the highest level is all about.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

At least next year we won't have to see Euskaltel riders losing time in Paris-Roubaix and other pave classics. It was quite stupid to see them riding those races

Anonymous said...

Yeah, for sure. Though Landaluze can ride there quite well (according to some Belgian Landaluzefans). But oke, he never starts there.

And I am surprised with the Giroinvitation. Rabobank had to send a big star if they wanted to start. And Gesink wasn't big enough for them, so Rabobank will most likely not start...

Magnus said...

Well, it just something I read somewhere, I can't say 100 % sure that they actually got an invitation...

Lizzard4567 said...

I hope they ride it, because otherwise it's going to be three boring weeks :x I share your opinion that it's a great race for the younger ones to finish a big round.

About the pave classics, Euskaltel will have to ride the Tour of Flandres luckily, because I'm probably going there and without Euskaltel I would stay home :P

Anonymous said...

If you are going to the finishline, you can stay waiting for them for a long time:D

 

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