In a small story on cyclingnews.com today, Joxean Matxin Fernandez (left), director of the Saunier Duval outfit, denied that Iban had signed for them. Though, he didn´t deny that they have an interest in him, and hoped to be able to negotiate with him in the near future. As Mayo himself said that "a change of air might be good for me", it looks increasingly likely that he will switch the orange of Euskaltel-Euskadi for the yellow of Saunier Duval I´m afraid.
The fact that I´ve just started this page means that it´s far from completed. In the near future, I will try to add a biography and hopefully some videos and pictures. Iban´s palmarès should now be possible to view if you click on the "palmarès" button on the right-hand menu. His list of palmarès had to be published as a post to make it able to view on the front-page all the time I´m afraid. His biography will also be published as a post to make it accesible on the right-hand menu. Further, I will try to bring you the very latest on his future the next days.
2007
1st, stage 19, Giro d`Italia - 179 km - 1st of June
2006
1st, Stage 4, Vuelta a Burgos - 148,8 km - 9th of August
1st, Overall, Vuelta a Burgos - 670 km - 6th-10th of August
1st, Stage 6, Dauphiné Libéré - 169 km - 10th of June
1st, Subida Urkiola - 161,5 km - 13th of August
2004
1st, Dauphiné Libéré - 1110 km - 6th-13th of June
Prologue, Dauphiné Libéré - 5,4 km - 6th of June
Stage 4, Dauphiné Libéré (ITT) - 21,6 km - 10th of June
1st, Vuelta Asturias - 850 km - 12th-16th of May
1st, Subida al Naranco - 162 km - 11th of May
1st, Clasica International Alcobendas - 260 km - 8th-9th of May
1st, stage 1, Clasica International Alcobendas - 170 km - 8th of May
1st, stage 2, Clasica International Alcobendas - 79,4 km - 9th of May
2nd, Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - 765 km - 5th-9th of April
2nd, Classique des Alpes - 165 km - 5th of June
2003
1st, Overall, Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - 755 km - 7th-11th of April
Stage 1, Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - 129 km - 7th of April
Stage 5a, Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - 91 km - 11th of April
Stage 5b, Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco (ITT) - 13 km - 11th of April
Stage 4, Dauphiné Libéré - 237 km - 12th of June
Prologue, Dauphiné Libéré - 5,1 km - 8th of June
1st, Stage 8, Tour de France - 219 km - 13th of July
2nd, Overall, Dauphiné Libéré - 1190 km - 8th-15th of June
2nd, Liège-Bastogne-Liège - 258,5 km - 27th of April
6th, Overall, Tour de France - 3430 km - 5th-27th of July
2002
5th, Overall, Vuelta a España - 3130 km - 7th-29th of September
2001
1st, Stage 6, Dauphiné Libéré - 193 km - 16th of June
1st, Classique des Alpes - 175 km - 9th of June
1st, Grand Prix du Midi Libre - 995 km - 22nd-27th of May
11th, Overall, Vuelta a España - 2990 km - 8th-30th of September
Though Iban´s future with Euskaltel is still very much in the air, Euskaltel´s roster for the 2007 season is almost completed. As of October, six new riders has signed with Euskaltel;
Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau from Ag2R Prévoyance, Aitor Galdos Alonso form Panaria Navigare, Jorge Azanza from Kaiku, Amets Txurruka from Team Barloworld, and the two neo-pros Andoni Lafuente and Lander Apperibay. Leaving the team is Joseba Albizu, Iker Flores, Gorka Gonzalez, Josu Silloniz, David Herrero Llorente(Karpin-Galicia) and David Lopez Garcia( Caisse d`Epargne-Illes Balears). Though, there are four remaining riders who´s futures are yet to be solved; Iban Mayo, Iban Mayoz, Iker Camaño and Roberto Laiseka. With the exception of these four, the roster for 2007 reads 26 names:
- Beñat Albizuri Aransoro
- Igor Anton Hernandez
- Lander Apperibay
- Andoni Aranaga Azkune
- Mikel Astarloza Chaurrau
- Jorge Azanza Soto
- Unai Etxebarria Arana
- Koldo Fernandez de Larre
- Aitor Galdos Alonso
- Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez
- Iban Iriondo Uranga
- Markel Irizar Aranburu
- Iñaki Isasi Flores
- Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga
- Andoni Lafuente
- Antton Luengo Celaya
- Aketza Peña Iza
- Alan Perez Lezaun
- Ruben Perez Moreno
- Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez
- Amets Txurruka
- Unai Uribarri Artabe
- Gorka Verdugo Markotegui
- Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre
- Joseba Zubeldia Aguirre
Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (left) will sign a new two-year-contract with Euskaltel-Euskadi on Wednesday the 4th. of october, it was announced on Euskaltel-Euskadi´s homepage www.fundacioneuskadi.com on Tuesday. Haimar has been with the Basque formation since he turned professional in 1998, and is set to prolong his stay with another two years. Haimar has been one of Euskaltel´s front-runners in recent years, racking up impressive results along the way. A fifth place and an eight place in the Tour stand out as his biggest results to date.
A story in the Spanish Daily El Correo suggested on Sunday that Iban Mayo had signed a two-year-contract with Spanish Pro Tour outfit Saunir Duval-Prodir. There have long been speculations concerning Mayo´s future, as he hasn´t signed an extension to his current contract at Euskaltel, and it is widely thought that Saunier Duval will be his next employer. But, nothing have been confirmed, and Mayo recently released a statement where he said that he hasn´t signed any contract with any team, but that he hopes to sort out his future this week. Along with Euskaltel´s offer, it is rumoured that Saunier Duval, Gerolsteiner and Cofidis have offered him a contract.
