High hopes for French trio

This year's Naturgas Energía roster includes three Frenchmen: Karl Baudron, Loic Chetout and Damien García. The trio obviously hope to follow in the footsteps of Thierry Elissalde and a certain Romain Sicard by riding for Euskaltel one day. Though no one are doubting their talent, Naturgas trainer Iñigo Urretxua says they've got a lot to learn. The French way of riding is very different to the Spanish way, he argues. "For example, they're always attacking, it's like they're not thinking! We want them to adopt our philosophy, a philosophy that's built around the team. The team is essential", he told DEIA at the team's presentation yesterday. "They're brave and very strong. They're strong riders. They climb well, and they sprint well. Especially so Chetout, perhaps - who won, among other races, the junior edition of the Vuelta a Gipuzkoa in 2010 - but that doesn't count for much, as it's now, in the amateur ranks, that they'll start to develop the skills that they'll try to exploit in the professional ranks."