Astarloza most active rider in VPV

In my sum up of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco yesterday, I forgot to mention that the irrepressible Mikel Astarloza was awarded the prize for the most active rider. Mikel showed himself in to big breaks, and his work for team-leader Samu Sánchez was also of great importance. Mikel in the end placed 18th overall, something which is hugely impressive considering that he was totally devoted to help Samu. Along with his 10th place in the Vuelta a Valencia, Mikel can look back on a very satisfying start with his new team.

Igor Antón in; Samu out

Euskaltel have once again changed their line-up for today`s Klasika Primavera. Samu won`t ride after all, and taking his place will be an in-form Igor Antón. The team will be directed by Jon Odriozola, and will look like this: Igor Antón, Beñat Albizuri, Lander Aperribay, Jon Bru, Unai Etxebarria, Aitor Hernández, Aketza Peña, Aitor Galdos, Mikel Astarloza and Iván Velasco.

No Iban for Primavera

As I predicted a couple of days ago, Iban won`t take to the start in Sunday`s Spanish one-day race Klasika Primavera. The news come from Saunier Duval`s homepage, and they tend to know what they`re talking about. Iban will instead I guess just let the knee rest, until he`ll ride the Amstel Gold Race next week-end.

Samu and Euskaltel absolutely brilliant

What a day for Samu Sánchez and Euskaltel! Samu won today`s ITT to cap of a brilliant Vuelta al País Vasco for him, where he in the end got a 3rd place overall. Though, it wasn`t only Samu who had a good day today. Aitor Hernández, who secured the mountains jersey yesterday, was today`s big surprise. Aitor posted the best time by far early on, and stayed in the lead for ages it seemed. In the end he got an amazing 11th place today, something which is a testament to his undoubted talent. We`ll hear a lot from Aitor in the years to come I reckon. Mikel Astarloza, who`s enjoyed an awesome Vuelta al País Vasco up until today, being in two breaks, third in the mountains contest, 18th overall, made it even better today by claiming an impressive 13th. That means that Euskaltel ended up a good 5th in the team rankings, while Samu capped of a great week by claiming a podium place in Euskaltel`s home race. Here`s how all Euskaltel riders did today:

• 1st, Samu Sánchez
• 11th, Aitor Hernández, 0:55
• 13th, Mikel Astarloza, 1:01
• 53rd, Rubén Pérez, 2:42
• 76th, Gorka Verdugo, 3:21
• 90th, Iñigo Landaluze, 5:02
• 91st, Unai Etxebarria, 5:51

Why Jorge Azanza don`t figure on the list of results today I don`t know. Though, as usual I`ll let you know once I find out. On GC, the Euskaltel riders placed:

• 3rd, Samu Sánchez, 1:16
• 18th, Mikel Astarloza, 8:49
• 45th, Rubén Pérez, 39:37
• 54th, Gorka Verdugo, 48:41
• 68th, Aitor Hernández, 59:37
• 79th, Unai Etxebarria, 1:13:46
• 83rd, Iñigo Landaluze, 1:22:24

So, the Vuelta al País Vasco turned out to be a success this year as well, don`t you think?

Criterium in Bilbao?

According to the Diario Vasco, a criterium in the city of Bilbao will likely take place this year. Bilbao has been without a professional bike race for years, and Euskaltel head Miguel Madariaga felt it was on time Bilbao arranged a small criterium in the centre of the beautiful city. The city council in Bilbao is said to be positive about the idea, and when I get more info on it, I`ll let you know of course.

Samu comments

After his brilliant ride to 2nd place today, and 3rd overall, Samu Sánchez talked to www.fundacioneuskadi.com. Here`s what the captain had to say: "Unfortunately there`s not much to say. I suffered from not eating enough. During the stage I collected drink, food, glucose tubes and that sort of food, but I never found the moment to eat it. In the end the effort I did caught up with me, and I lost time the last kilometres. We (the team) attacked from the beginning, and in the end I reached the line. It seemed for a while that I was not going to make it, it felt like instead of going forward I went backwards. The guys in the car never stopped encouraging me, but when there`s nothing left to give, there`s nothing I can do". On the team`s performance, he said: "The tactics of the team have been spectacular. I believe we had a good day, and I`m sure it pleased the fans. We`ve been in most breaks, I attacked in the last inclines of the Agiña and I gave it my all in the descent from the Agiña and the Aritxulegi. Mikel Astarloza has done a phenomenal job. He helped me to the Jaizkibel, and there, he did an amazing job for me. If we want to win this race we have to take risks. I think the Basque spectators must have been proud of their team today, as we`ve been both brave and ambitious. We came to win this race, and today we proved it. I had the race in my hands, but I lost it. The understanding in the break has been good. Though, at the beginning of the Jaizkibel I had some doubts over wether Cobo was giving it his all. I even spoke to his sports director to tell him that this was a break to the benefit of both of us, that we had to give it a try. And once we reached the top of the Jaizkibel, the understanding between us was perfect. But, already in the first part of the Erlaitz, I think that Cobo realised that I didn`t feel super, so he upped the pace and went solo. From then on I just tried to get to the line anyway I could". He also had some words of praise for winner, Juanjo Cobo: "I want to congratulate Cobo on his fantastic ride, and also I would like to congratulate Saunier Duval on a magnificent race". Looking ahead to tomorrow`s ITT, he said: "The objective tomorrow will be to win the stage, as if I do that, I`ll be sure of a podium place. I hope that I won`t feel today`s effort in my body tomorrow". He also found time to praise his team: "I think the whole team has done a really good race. We`ve been very active, and a win would surely be a fitting reward for all the hard work. We`ve prepared well, and we`re giving it our all, but we`re just not able to turn it into a win. We`ll see tomorrow if we can win the stage and make the podium: that would be important for the team, and, no doubt, deserved.

Euskaltel brilliant today

Euskaltel enjoyed a brilliant day today in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. Samu placed second on the stage, meaning he lies 3rd overall going into the last stage, a 14 km ITT.

Not just Samu did a great job today. The whole team did a magnificent ride. Aitor grabbed more points and secured the mountains jersey, while, quite literally, the rest of the team went in break after break. At one point, Euskaltel had no less than three riders in a break. That break looked good, but it split up underways. In the end it was only Mikel Astarloza and Juanjo Cobo left. Then Samu decided to have a go. He managed to get across to the two leaders right before the start of the gruelling Alto de Jaizkibel. Here, Mikel totally sacrificed himself for the team leader. He dropped backwards after a little while, but all credit to Mikel, he really was extraordinary today. On the last climb though, Samu got trouble, and when Cobo attacked, he couldn`t respond. But, Samu dug dip and managed to get second on the day and, with the rest of the favourites coming in further back, Samu jumped from 7th to 3rd overall. Samu now looks to be a good bet for a podium place overall for sure. Here`s how the Euskaltel riders placed today:

• 2nd, Samu Sánchez, 1:03
• 27th, Mikel Astarloza, 6:26
• 29th, Jorge Azanza, 8:58
• 35th, Rubén Pérez, 9:01
• 49th, Aitor Hernández, 15:06
• 65th, Gorka Verdugo, 20:00
• 67th, Unai Etxebarria, 20:02
• 94th, Iñigo Landaluze 26:22

Overall:

• 3rd, Samu Sánchez, 1:20
• 18th, Mikel Astarloza, 7:52
• 34th, Jorge Azanza, 23:40
• 50th, Rubén Pérez, 36:59
• 57th, Gorka Verdugo, 45:29
• 77th, Aitor Hernández, 58:46
• 85th, Unai Etxebarria, 1:07:59
• 90th, Iñigo Landaluze, 1:17:26

In the team rankings Euskaltel advanced to 5th overall, while Aitor has officially, if he finishes tomorrow, won the mountains jersey. Well done Aitor!

Euskaltel for the Giro

Euskaltel`s team for the Giro d`Italia will look like this: Aitor Hernández, Aketxa Peña, Antton Luengo, Joseba Zubeldia, Iban Velasco, Markel Irizar, Koldo Fernández de Larrea, Alan Pérez and Unai Uribarri. These 9 will look for stage-wins through breaks, and especially through sprints with an on-fire Koldo Fernández. The team will not target the overall classification, but with riders like Koldo, Aitor Hernández, Antton Luengo and Aketza Peña, a stage win or two should definetely be within reach.

Iban doubtful for Klasika Primavera

Just to make it clear, this is just speculation from my side. The thing is, Iban is on the startlist for Sunday`s annual hilly one-day race Klasika Primavera, but will he start? I`d say no, as he just abandoned the Vuelta al Pais Vasco due to severe knee-pains. I don`t know anything about wether he`ll start or not, but I reckon it would be wise to let the knee rest so that he`ll be in good health for the up-coming Ardennes classics. Iban has stated that he won`t change his schedule, but I`ll guess only time will tell. But if he starts, without the left-knee hampering him, he`ll for sure be one to watch.

Verdugo declerations

Breakaway-hero of the day, Gorka Verdugo, talked to www.fundacioneuskadi.com after today`s stage. This is what he had to say: "I`m partly pleased. On one hand I`m content with helping my team by filtering in the break. We saw the importance of being in the breaks yesterday. For the first time we didn`t enter the break... The truth is that we haven`t had much luck. Today we joined the rigth break, but Voigt had a brilliant day and was impossible to follow. The truth is that when you join a break, you always hope and imagine it`ll go home, so I`m left with a bittersweet flavour in my mouth. When I saw that I couldn`t win the stage, I "stopped", recovered, and gave it my all for the team. I`m a teamplayer, and in this team they value that job, something, which for me, is fundamental. As for the overall, it looks difficult, but you never know. We will be with Samu until the end, as he`s the leader without a doubt. We`ll do what we can to win stages as well as the overall".

Hernández closing in on mountains jersey

Aitor Hernández is quickly closing in on winning the mountains jersey in this edition of the Vuelta al País Vasco. Aitor currently leads number two "Triki" Beltrán by 5 points, and with one regular stage left to go, it`s no doubt looking promising for Aitor. "I`ve secured the jersey for another day", he said to www.fundacioneuskadi.com after the stage. "It`s important for the team to have a rider on the podium in it`s home race. I`ll try to keep it until the end, although the team comes first. If I must sacrifice myself for the team, I`ll do it, no problem. It`s true that it would mean a lot for me to win the mountains jersey in a race of such quality, but the important thing is to do what the directors ask me to". Well, if Aitor could win the jersey it would be an amazing thing for him and the team. After all, winning the prize as the best climber in a race that`s tailor made for climbers isn`t a small feat by any means. Aupa Aitor!

Samu 9th; Verdugo in the break

Samu Sánchez placed an impressive 9th today, meaning he now lies 7th overall going into the penultimate and, surely, race-deciding stage. Gorka Verdugo formed part of the break of the day, while Aitor Hernández clung onto his climbers jersey without problems.

Gorka, together with 9 others, got away after only 5 km. The group worked well together, but with 50 km remaining, German power-house Jens Voigt attacked the break and stayed clear until the line. When Gorka was caught inbetween Voigt and the peloton, he dropped back to the peloton to help Samu. Together with Rubén Pérez, he did a great job keeping the pace high on the first slopes up the last ascent. Samu stayed with the very best and came in 9th, together with the group chasing Gómez Marchante of Saunier, who came in 14 seconds earlier. Mikel Astarloza also had a good day today, coming home with the next chasing group, only 20 seconds after the first. Here`s how the Euskaltel riders did today:

• 9th, Samu Sánchez, 1:53
• 25th, Mikel Astarloza, 2:13
• 46th, Jorge Azanza, 3:10
• 67th, Rubén Pérez, 9:54
• 72nd, Gorka Verdugo, 12:28
• 91st, Aitor Hernández, 13:02
• 113th, Unai Etxebarria, 13:02
• 138th, Iñigo Landaluze, 15:10

Overall, Samu is 7th, 2:11 behind leader Angel Vicioso. Mikel is meanwhile lying an impressive 21st, only 3:20 back. In the team rankings Euskaltel is a sligthly disappointing 7th, while Aitor Hernández is well on course to take the mountains jersey with him home, leading his nearest contestor Beltrán by 5 points.

Iban abandons

Iban today abandoned, or more correctly, didn`t start the 4th stage of the Vuelta al País Vasco. The reason is of course the pain in his left knee. Though, Iban does not plan to make any changes to his calendar. Iban said to DEIA yesterday that he`ll continue to prepar for the Ardennes classics and the Giro. It`s sad, but understandable, that Iban decided to call it a day. But even though he hasn`t been able to ride as he had hoped, he has no doubt been helpful for his team-mates. Aupa!

Fernández once again unlucky

You just have to feel sorry for Koldo Fernández these days. In Gent-Wevelgem yesterday he did a great race and was quickly approaching the finish line with the main favourites. Then, with about 15 km left, he punctured and finished way down the standings. The exactly same thing happened today in the GP Pino Cerami. When the decisive break went today, with 20 km remaining, Koldo was a part of it. Koldo knew he would have a good shot at the win if he stayed with the break to the end, as he was clearly the best sprinter in the group. Then, with 15 km left, he punctured yet again. Koldo was naturally not capable to get back to the leading group, and, didn`t, as far as I know, finish the race either. The only rider I can find on the list of results is Markel Irizar, who came in 45th at the same time as the peloton. Markel once again impressed today, as he, together with Alán Pérez, was a part of the day`s main break. The break was caught with 30 km to go, but nonetheless a job well done by the two youngsters. For Euskaltel in general it was a job well done. Euskaltel is certainly improving in the Belgian classics. And maybe, just maybe, will Euskaltel get it`s first win on Belgium roads soon if luck`s on their side.