Briefs

• Given that Álex Díaz will take on a bigger role with Euskaltel next year, Aritz Arberas, former Naturgas rider and DS at the red team for the last few seasons, will be the man charged with directing Euskaltel's feeder team. Speaking at the team's presentation on Monday, Arberas spoke of his delight at taking over the reins at the Continental outfit. "I'm very pleased and highly motivated for this new challenge. A lot of riders have worn the blue of Orbea before stepping up into the elite ranks, so of course it's a big responsibility to lead this team. But I'm honoured to be given the chance", he told Orbea's website.
• Euskaltel are set to stage another team training camp in January, BiciCiclismo reports. The team's three-day get-together in Derio just finished, but all the riders (perhaps with the exception of the team for Down Under) will meet up again in Derio or Alicante early in 2012.
• Speaking of Down Under, three of four of the final eight-man squad will have their own camp in Alicante in early January. Urtasun and Gorka Izagirre might both be present, according to the same website.
• Euskaltel will be leaving no stone unturned in their quest for success at next year's three Grand Tours. The Giro-bound trio of Nieve, Velasco and Txurruka will scout out some of the stages post-Vuelta a Murcia in March, while Samu and his loyal domestiques will inspect the most important Tour stages in May. Antón will do the same with a few team-mates in June with a view to the Vuelta a España.