Three riders to sign

If the current rumours surrounding the team's future turn out to be true, i.e. Euskaltel backing the team with some nine million euro from 2013 and onwards, the team's chiefs will no doubt be looking to recruit from outside the Fundación Euskadi-institution in order to keep their place in the WorldTour. The likes of Intxausti and Castroviejo, to name but a few of stand-out Basques plying their trade away from Euskaltel, are both under contract in 2013 - otherwise they would of course have featured in this short list. Those aside, here's the trio of riders they should sign:

Ibai Salas:
The 20-year-old is showing signs of his true potential this year with Caja Rural and belongs at a higher level. The native of Bilbao has had a successful season to date, taking out the prestigious Three Days of Álava in April among other races, and would likely be tempted to ride for his home team. He's an all-rounder with a decent motor who will surely be picked up by the professional Caja Rural outfit this year or next if he continues in the same vein. One for the future.

Arkaitz Durán:
A no-brainer. Has been riding with Azysa-Telco'm-Conor in the amateur ranks this year after the implosion of Geox late 2011, and would jump at the chance to return to the pro ranks - his stated aim for 2013. Has already racked up 10 (!) wins on the competitive Spanish circuit and we're not even halfway through June. Despite seemingly having been in the peloton for ages, the Vitoria-native is still only 26 and should, logically, be about to enter the best years of his career. Having bypassed the amateur ranks by going straight from the juniors to the pros under Joxean Matxin's tutelage back in 2005, Durán has flattered to deceive ever since. A year in the amateur ranks, rediscovering the feeling of winning bike races, may actually do him good. As they say, form is temporary, class is permanent. Undoubted potential - time to give him a shot.

Imanol Erviti: 
With two Vuelta-stages to his name, it's hard to grasp that 28-year-old Imanol Erviti is still a relatively unknown rider to the wider cycling public. The Pamplona-born Movistar rider has five wins on his palmares, but has almost exclusively been used as a domestique in his career. Rock-solid, big motor, extensive Grand Tour-experience, good all-rounder and with a penchant for picking out the winning breaks, Erviti would be a valuable asset to Euskaltel. He's still got many years left in him at the highest level and may prosper if given freer reins. One for the present.

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