Briefs: Naturgas/cyclo-cross/Martín

• Naturgas Energía will stage its first team camp of the pre-season this weekend in Derio, reports Euskaltel's website. Focus will be on team-building and getting to know the new riders on the team - as is the tradition for the first get-together of the new season. The team is yet to confirm its full roster for 2012, but big changes are expected.
• The Basque cyclo-cross season will get underway this weekend with a race in Karrantza on Sunday and one in Muskiz on Monday. The Basque calendar comprises 19 races, and is likely to see seasoned riders like Larriñaga and Murgoitio fight it out for the overall win. Former Euskaltel stalwart Aitor Hernández is hoping to mix it up with the big duo though, and will do so in the colours of his new team Orbea. Hernández has already showed glimpses of form this year by taking sixth in Medina de Pomar and third in Ramales de Vitoria.
• Noel Martín's fan club will hold its first party (read: dinner) tomorrow afternoon in El Arenal, a small village close to Ávila (where he hails from). Former team-mate at Orbea and Euskaltel revelation Mikel Landa will be present. Besides dinner, every attendee will be in the drawing for various Euskaltel and Orbea memorabilia. Martín was released by Orbea recently and is likely to compete on the amateur circuit in 2012.