News shorts

• Samu closed out his post-Tour crit campaign with a third in Welser on Thursday. The Olympic champ was beaten to the win by Eisel and Jan Sokol. Samu has now set his sights on delivering Euskaltel it's first win in the Clásica later today, but admits it'll be difficult as he expects Gilbert to win. "Gilbert will win, I guarantee you", he told Spanish media earlier this week.
• The Circuito de Getxo is up the day after San Sebastián, and both Euskaltel and Orbea will naturally line up. Aberasturi, Bagües, Zabalo, García, Sáez, Etxebarria, Martín, Blázquez and Urain will represent the blue team, while Antón, Nieve, Bilbao, Oroz, Urtasun, Isasi and A and R Pérez will defend the orange team's interests. The latter five will also take part in San Sebastián today as announced earlier.
• Tomorrow also marks the kick-off for the Tour of Poland. Contrary to earlier reports both on this site and on others, Mikel Astarloza will not take the start. No information on why hasn't been given, but I assume we will know why during the upcoming week. Euskaltel will still send a strong team, though, consisting of Castroviejo, Fernández, Sesma, Azanza, Cazaux, Minguez, Aramendía and Jon Izagirre, reports the team's website.
• Orbea have also announced their line-up for the Vuelta a Burgos running from 3-7 July. Cabedo, García, Extebarria, Bizkarra, Martín, Zabalo, Urain and Sáez will do their utmost to get into breaks, according to team DS Díaz.
• Naturgas meanwhile will take on another type of race. On Sunday the red team will send a trio to a mountain time trial event in Altzo. Merino, Chetout and González will try to shine for Arberas' team.