Pello Bilbao 2nd in Salinas de Leniz

Pello Bilbao took yet another top placing this weekend in the one-day race in Salinas de Leniz. The wiry climber took an impressive second place, while team-mate Jon Larriñaga grabbed sixth right behind Pello. The team was also present in the breaks throughout the stage, something Aritz Arberas was keen to emphasize post-race: "I'm very pleased with the team's race as a whole. Everyone were focused. We were in all the breaks in this tough race. I want to praise the team's performance in general and Bilbao and Larriñaga's performances in particular. They were both in the mix at the end. I'm pleased with the work laid down by the team".

Alán animates Tour stage 1

Alán Pérez ensured Euskaltel was in the thick of the action in today's first stage proper of the Tour de France. Alán jumped on the attack with Wynants and Boom immediately after the flag dropped, and the trio built up a maximum lead of almost eight minutes. Naturally the break was doomed from the start, but at least he grabbed quite a few sprint points underway and made sure the team sponsors got some valuable TV time. In the end it came down to the anticipated sprint finish, and, as per tradition in GT openers, the customary crashes. A few of the Euskaltel guys hit the deck, most notably JJ who hurt his right wrist but luckily didn't break it. Alas he'll be at the start tomorrow. In the crash-disrupted sprint Rubén showed himself well by taking a good ninth place. That's pretty good in such a high-quality field. Alan was pretty happy to have been out front all day, saying 'I'm satisfied with having been in the break. We worked well together, and you always have hope it can last. But it wasn't to be.' Samu was happy with the team's ride, and also said he was left exhausted after the stage. Not by fatigue, though, but by tension and stress. I guess that sums it up quite nicely. Everyone but Alán got the same time as winner Petacchi; Alan naturally feeling the strain of 200 kilometres out front and finishing 3:43 back.

Prologue misery for Euskaltel

Euskaltel and Samu got off to an awful start in the Tour de France today. With his 75th place finish, a big 56 seconds down on Cancellara (who else?), Samu did not get the start to the race he was longing for. Losing 34 and 29 seconds to Lance and Alberto respectively over 8,9 kilometres is not good. Never mind Cancellara, the important thing here is the overall contenders. Samu also lost quite a few seconds to riders like Leipheimer, Klöden, Kreuziger, Rogers, Vino and Cadel, while on the bright side he finished just two seconds down on Sastre, one down on Basso and on the same time as Menchov and Wiggins. He even gained a few seconds on the Schleck brothers, so it's not all doom and gloom. Though, there's no hiding I was expecting something quite a bit better. So too did Igor González de Galdeano it seems. Obviously not happy with his charges' rides, the man nonetheless tried his best to hide his disappointment when speaking to the press afterwards. "The team did very well in the Dauphiné and I have confidence in my chosen riders", he said. "They're all very motivated and I'm sure we'll get to show our real value in the days to come. We've only just started". Samu himself was actually quite up-beat about his ride, saying: "I'm satisfied with my ride, I'm practically equal on time with Sastre, Menchov, Wiggins and Fränk Schleck, riders who will animate the race. We've just started and there are a lot of hard days coming up. Tomorrow's stage will be complicated, so we'll take it day by day." As for the other riders, Gorka was seven places and two seconds down on Samu, while JJ was 112th at 1:06. The rest of the guys really stacked the latter half of the result sheet. Iñaki was 165th at 1:21, Egoi 167th at the same time, Amets 173rd one second further back, Alan 179th at 1:24, Iván 189th at 1:33 and Rubén was a lowly 193rd at 1:39.

Strength in numbers

Here are the riders' back numbers for this year's Tour:

• 181: Samuel Sánchez
• 182: Iñaki Isasi
• 183: Egoi Martínez
• 184: Juan José Oroz
• 185: Alan Pérez
• 186: Rubén Pérez
• 187: Amets Txurruka
• 188: Iván Velasco
• 189: Gorka Verdugo

Getting your priorities wrong, Señor Galdeano?

I have to say I'm not overly optimistic going into this year's Tour. Looking at the team-sheet and Igor González de Galdeano's comments of late, I can't help but feel the team is doing the same mistakes as in Tours gone past. Goals of a high GC placing is all good with the right riders, but not so good without them.

With the exceptional talents of Ibán Mayo and Haimar Zubeldia, Euskaltel never managed to get higher than fifth in the Tour. A fifth place in the world's best and hardest race is not to be sniffed at, obviously, but I think it's high time the team, or the sport directors to be precise, take a good, long look in the mirror and see where they're at. Samu is an exceptional athlete, but there's no way he'll win, or even podium, at this year's Tour. Alberto is there, Lance is there, Andy, Fränck, Cadel, Kreuziger&Basso, Gesink&Menchov, Sastre... They're all there. Getting on the podium in the Vuelta is one thing. Getting on the podium in the Tour a completely different one. I'm not saying Samu can't possibly get on the podium. I'm just saying it's highly unlikely. He should go for stages, stages in the Alps and the Pyrenees. He should aim to give the team that elusive win, not aim for a 7th on GC. The team have placed 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th and 10th, several times, on GC, but it's not what the team needs. It's essential for the team's future to get a win and to show Euskaltel and potentional new sponsors that this is the team to go with. Galdeano has been going on in the press about how the team will first and foremost aim for stages, not a high overall placing, and I like that. But I'm not sure I believe him. His team selection does not back up his statements. If you want to win stages you take other riders with you, Galdeano, with all due respect. Believe me, I think Igor is brilliant at what he does. He's installed a new mentality and taken the team forward they way it should have been done years ago. But I think he's got this one wrong. Gorka Verdugo, Amets Txurruka, JJ Oroz, Alan Pérez, Iván Velasco and Iñaki Isasi are not really stage-winning material. None of them have ever won a single race in their careers. They're all good riders, but they're more solid and all-round riders rather than a breakaway specialist, a real sprinter or an ace climber. They're domestiques; brilliant in riding for a captain and doing it for the team. Egoi and Rubén are much in the same mould, but at least they've won a race or two in their career and truly are potential stage-winners. If you want a team to win stages you take Koldo, you take Pablo, you take Beñat, you take Igor. You take the winners. It's tempting to add Romain and Jonathan to that quartet, but I think it's wise, given their age and lack of experience, to leave them out for at least another year or two. This years team is way too similar to those of other years; a captain that is likely to end up between fifth and tenth overall, and a bunch of riders to support him and get into the breaks but then fade away when it's time to get serious. I hope I'm wrong, I really hope I'm wrong with this rather negative prognostic. But I fear all we'll end up with is a seventh on GC and a couple of second and third places on stages. As usual. It's time for a re-think. It's time to get real.

Naturgas good to go for Saturday

The races are coming thick and fast these days for Naturgas. On Saturday, when the whole world's attention will be on the Tour start in Rotterdam, the sub-23 squad will line up for the demaning Clásica de Salinas de Leniz. The race ends atop a climb, a cobbled climb mind you, so the guys will have to be at their A-game to stand a chance of taking the win. 12 riders have been chosen: David Hidalgo, Álex and Pello Bilbao, Aitor Ocampos, Efrén Carazo, Mikel Bizkarra, Alfonso Saiz, Igor Merino, Jon Larrinaga, Rory Martínez, Fernando Grijalba and Urtzi Legarra.

Euskaltel touch down in Rotterdam

Euskaltel have found their way to the start of this year's Tour in Rotterdam. After some cancellations of flights, the chosen nine and the crew got to the Dutch town yesterday afternoon. Due to the unlucky circumstances they didn't have time for anything else than dinner and then straight to bed. Earlier today they went for their obligatory health checks before heading out for a three-hour spin, taking in the first 40 kilometres of Sunday's stage. Lunch was up next for the guys before they headed to the official presentation in downtown Rotterdam. Tomorrow will be a pretty easy day with no media commitments or anything on the menu. They'll head out for a training ride and then recon the very first stage; a nine-kilometre test against the clock. After that it's the usual: food, siesta, massage, bed. On Saturday morning when they get up, three weeks of suffering awaits them. Here's to a successful Tour!

13 Basques in Tour

Just though I'd let you know that 13 Basques will line up for the Tour start in Rotterdam on Saturday. Naturally Euskaltel have the majority of these 13 on it's roster, eight to be precise. Those are Iván Velasco, Iñaki Isasi, Gorka Verdugo, Egoi Martínez, Juan José Oroz, Amets Txurruka and Rubén and Alan Pérez. Mind you, Samu is not a Basque, eventhough I'm sure you all want him to be. The five others are the brilliant Juanma Garate from Rabobank, Vuelta stage-winner Imanol Erviti from Caisse d'Epargne, and Footon-Servetto trio Arkaitz Durán, who really should get out of that team and join Euskaltel at season's end by the way, the ever-improving Ibán Mayoz and stalwart Aitor Pérez Arrieta. The latter wasn't originally slated to ride but was today hurried off to Rotterdam after the inexplicable dumping of Giampaolo Cheula earlier today. A lot of talented vascos on show no doubt, but I would have loved to see Haimar healthy and recovered at the start-line as well.

Ardanza hints at continued backing

Chief of telephone company Euskaltel, José Antonio Ardanza, today revealed he's planning to continue the sponsorship of the team. Euskaltel's current agreement with the Fundación Euskadi comes to a close at the end of this season, but Ardanza sounded optimistic on behalf of the team's future. Though he didn't reveal in what way the company will continue to back the team, it's obvious they will in one way of another. "I want to make it clear that Euskaltel will continue to support this project", he said in a speech at today's get-together in Zamudio. "But I want the other sponsors to prolong their involvment and I want more sponsors on board". That's pretty much all he said on the matter, before adding that he hopes to see "the extremely popular" Euskaltel on the podium in Paris.

Euskaltel ready for take-off

Euskaltel today held their annual gathering, or ceremony, call it what you like, ahead of their departure for France. Present at the Parque Tecnológico de Zamudio in Bizkaia was Euskaltel president José Antonio Ardanza, Deputy General of Bizkaia, José Luis Bilbao, an advisor from the cultural department of the Basque Government called Blanca Urgell, Miguel Madariaga, who needs no further introduction, and all the riders of course. Also present was Mikel Trueba, a young man suffering from ELA, who'll do a blog on his Tour experience with the team. During the ceremony, all riders were given a blessing from the rector de la basílica of Begoña, the aptly-named Jesus Garitaonaindia.

The National Anthem

Euskaltel have finally gotten their own song! Marking the 10-year anniversary of consecutive Tour de France appearances, the team got EtxE, reportedly a famous artist in Spain, to write an "upbeat song in Basque that pays tribute to the team's fans". Euskaltel's local fans, affectionately known as the Orange Wave, have for 16 years backed their team through days of glory and days of despair, and this is the Fundación's way of saying thank you. It's hoped this song will become the team's and fans' song alike.

Naturgas ready for Haro classic

Naturgas will send a 14-man team to today's one-day race in the Rioja region, the Clásica de Haro. Chief Arberas' chosen men are: Aitor Ocampos, Igor Merino, David Hidalgo, Mikel Martioda, Efrén Carazo, Urtzi Legarra, Álex Bilbao, Alfonso Saiz, Jon Larrinaga, Carlos Barbero, Unai Martínez, Rory Martínez and Alberto Guinea. Due to the race's hilly closing kilometres, look for Barbero, Guinea and Bilbao in particular to post strong results.

Koldo takes bronze in road race

Koldo grabbed an excellent third in today's Campeonato d'España de ruta. Unsurprisingly, JI Gutierrez escaped alone to take an impressive win. Behind him, Euskaltel launched a furious chase in an attempt to reel him in and set up Koldo, but eventually they came in 24 seconds too late. Out of an eight-man group Koldo sprinted to second behind Ventoso and thus a nice bronze medal in the prestigious race. Egoi ended up 12th and Alan 13th at 31 and 55 seconds respectively, whilst Aitor, Amets, Gorka, Iñaki and Rubén all ended up 2:02 in arrears. A lot of the guys looked strong throughout; a good sign no doubt for next week-end.

Romain active in French champs

Romain put in a fighting performance in today's French champ Road Race. The precocious climber attacked the bunch 41 kilometres out, but didn't manage to get a decent gap. When the decisive 11-man break went a little later, Romain and Jerome Pineau did their best to bridge up. But like with his previous attemp, he didn't succeed. Eventually he placed 26th, 2:01 down. Romain will now face a break after a successful, but tiring, first half of the season.