Aramendía reflects on Euskaltel years

Much was expected of Francisco Javier Aramendía Llorente when he turned professional with Euskaltel back in 2008. But the soon-to-be 25-year-old (he turns 25 this coming Monday) never quite lived up to the hype surrounding him, struggling to obtain results of note after a promising start. In 2012, the strong rouleur will step down to the Professional Continental ranks and ride for the team he spent his formative years with: Caja Rural. But he's not disheartened at the thought.

"I'm enthusiastic about 'going home'", he told La Grada Navarra. "It fills me with joy and optimism. I grew up here, and now I hope we can continue to grow together. I can guarantee you that I will do my utmost, 100 percent, at this team. The road will tell me if I'm successful."

Looking back at his four years in the orange jersey, the Navarran was grateful for the experience he's obtained - from one race in particular.

"At Euskaltel, I was given the chance to ride with the elite and do a full calendar of top quality races. But perhaps the race that made me grow the most was the Giro d'Italia: first of all because it was the first Grand Tour I ever did, but also because I learned that the body has no limits. It was a fantastic experience! I fell in love with the race. I don't know what the Tour is like, but the fans in Italy were truly exceptional. Whilst in the middle of a race like that, you're so focused on day-to-day business that you don't fully grasp what you're actually doing. Then, when you get back home and take a look at the race you just completed, you wonder 'how did I do that?'. That's what I mean when I say the body has no limits. It's a spectacular race for a lot of reasons: from the stage profiles, to the tifosi, to the transfers."

The Giro will, understandably, not figure on Aramendía's calendar next year. Instead, he's got his mind set on his home Grand Tour. Hailing from Funes, toeing the line at the Vuelta-start in nearby Pamplona represents a major objective.

"It would be a dream come true for both myself and the team (to take part in the Vuelta a España). Our target for 2012 is to be at the start. The race starts off from my home, from the team's headquarters, so I think it's only natural that we'll get picked for the race. We'll fight all year long for that invitation - and I'll do my best to be among the nine selected".

Fernández reveals 2012 plans

Departing sprinter Koldo Fernández has got his schedule for 2012 figured out - and the 30-year-old is likely to cross swords with his erstwhile team-mates pretty much all spring.

Spanish news-agency EFE reports the soon-to-be Garmin-Cervélo rider will start out with a separate calendar to that of star sprinter Tyler Farrar. Fernández will have the backing of his team in the early months of the year in the Challenge Mallorca, in Portugal's Volta ao Algarve and in one-day race Clásica Almería. He's shortlisted for Milano-San Remo - a race he never enjoyed much luck at whilst with Euskaltel - and he's also down for the Volta a Catalunya.

Fernández and namesake, DS and former Euskaltel rider Bingen Fernández, along with the rest of the American outfit, will step up their preparations for the new season with a multi-day training camp in Calpe, Alicante.

Orbe relishing Orbea opportunity

Given his name, it is most fitting that Haritz Orbe will ride for Orbea next year. The 20-year-old makes the move from Basque sub-23 team Bidelan-Kirolgi after a stellar season at the Spanish amateur scene and, despite his youth, feels ready for the challenge ahead.

"Yeah, I feel ready to race at this level", he told El Pedal de Frodo. "This season I proved I've progressed a lot. Obviously it'll take time to adapt to the level, but, yes, I do feel ready for it. I'm really enthusiastic about this move, and from my first pedal stroke I'll strive to pay back the Fundación, Miguel Madariaga in particular, and Orbea for the trust they've shown in me. I didn't ride for Naturgas (the Fundación Euskadi's own sub-23 outfit), but pretty much every Basque cyclist aim to join this team nonetheless."

Despite securing his dream move, Orbe isn't getting carried away. So far this winter, he's been spending more time at school than on his bike.

"I haven't taken a lot of time off this winter. This year's off-season has been like the previous ones: centred around my engineering studies. Although, from December and onwards, I'll spend more and more time on the bike and give the sport a real go. Cycling deserves a chance".

Reflecting on the recently-concluded season, the youngster was particularly pleased with his performances in the year's biggest races: the nationals, the Vuelta a Madrid and the Tour de l'Avenir.

"I was consistent pretty much throughout the year, and I got good results in major races like the national champs and in Madrid (he was third in the under-23 road race and achieved the same result in the under-23 competition in the capital race). Taking part in l'Avenir was also a highlight. I have to admit though that I would have liked to have won more races, but overall I've learned a lot both this year and in 2010".

Team rosters

• 1994 Euskadi-Petronor (16): Ibon Ajuria, Julián Barcina, Iñigo Cuesta, Thierry Elissalde, Iñigo González de Heredia, Juan Carlos González Salvador, Rubén Gorospe, Roberto Laiseka, Javier Lazpiur, Juan Tomás Martínez, Javier Murguialday, Aitor Osa, Javier Palacín, Pello Ruiz Cabestany, Agustín Sagasti, César Solaun.
• 1995 Euskadi (20): Ibon Ajuria, Julián Barcina, Aitor Bugallo, Iñigo Cuesta, Thierry Elissalde, Erkaitz Elkoroiribe, Bingen Fernández, Álvaro González de Galdeano, Igor González de Galdeano, Iñigo González de Heredia, Juan Carlos González Salvador, Asier Guenetxea, Roberto Laiseka, Javier Lazpiur, Roberto Lezaun, Juan Tomás Martínez, Aitor Osa, Javier Palacín, Agustín Sagasti, César Solaun.
• 1996 Euskadi (18): Iñaki Aiarzagüena, Ibon Ajuria, Aitor Bugallo, Erkaitz Elkoroiribe, Unai Etxebarria, Bingen Fernández, Igor Flores, David García Markina, Álvaro González de Galdeano, Igor González de Galdeano, Iñigo González de Heredia, Asier Guenetxea, Roberto Laiseka, Alberto López de Muñain, Aitor Osa, Javier Palacín, Óscar López Uriarte, César Solaun.
• 1997 Euskadi (16): Iñaki Aiarzagüena, Ibon Ajuria, Aitor Bugallo, Txema Del Olmo, Unai Etxebarria, Bingen Fernández, Igor Flores, David García Markina, Gorka Gerrikagoitia, Álvaro González de Galdeano, Igor González de Galdeano, Iñigo González de Heredia, Roberto Laiseka, Alberto López de Muñain, Óscar López Uriarte, César Solaun.
• 1998 Euskaltel-Euskadi (20): Iñaki Aiarzagüena, Ibon Ajuria, Joseba Beloki, Aitor Bugallo, Ángel Castresana, Iñigo Chaurreau, Txema Del Olmo, Unai Etxebarria, Bingen Fernández, Igor Flores, Gorka Gerrikagoitia, Ramón González Arrieta, Álvaro González de Galdeano, Igor González de Galdeano, Aitor Kintana, Roberto Laiseka, Alberto López de Muñain, Óscar López Uriarte, José Alberto Martínez, Haimar Zubeldia.
• 1999 Euskaltel-Euskadi (20): Ibon Ajuria, Peio Arreitunandia, Mikel Artetxe, Joseba Beloki, Ángel Castresana, Iñigo Chaurreau, Txema Del Olmo, Unai Etxebarria, Bingen Fernández, Igor Flores, Iker Flores, Gorka Gerrikagoitia, Ramón González Arrieta, Aitor Kintana, Roberto Laiseka, Alberto López de Muñain, José Alberto Martínez, Mikel Pradera, Aitor Silloniz, Haimar Zubeldia.
• 2000 Euskaltel-Euskadi (23): Peio Arreitunandia, Gorka Arrizabalaga, Mikel Artetxe, Ángel Castresana, Iñigo Chaurreau, Txema Del Olmo, Rubén Díaz de Cerio, Unai Etxebarria, Bingen Fernández, Igor Flores, Iker Flores, Gorka Gerrikagoitia, Ramón González Arrieta, Aitor Kintana, Roberto Laiseka, Ibán Mayo, Alberto López de Muñain, José Alberto Martínez, Mikel Pradera, Samuel Sánchez, Aitor Silloniz, Josu Silloniz, Haimar Zubeldia.
• 2001 Euskaltel-Euskadi (27): Gorka Arrizabalaga, Mikel Artetxe, Ángel Castresana, Iñigo Chaurreau, Txema Del Olmo, Rubén Díaz de Cerio, David Etxebarria, Unai Etxebarria, Lander Euba, Bingen Fernández, Igor Flores, Iker Flores, Gorka Gerrikagoitia, Gorka González, Ramón González Arrieta, David Herrero, Iñaki Isasi, Roberto Laiseka, Iñigo Landaluze, Ibán Mayo, Alberto López de Muñain, José Alberto Martínez, Samuel Sánchez, Aitor Silloniz, Josu Silloniz, Haimar Zubeldia, Joseba Zubeldia.
• 2002 Euskaltel-Euskadi (25): Gorka Arrizabalaga, Mikel Artetxe, Rubén Díaz de Cerio, David Etxebarria, Unai Etxebarria, Lander Euba, Julen Fernández, Igor Flores, Iker Flores, Gorka Gerrikagoitia, Gorka González, David Herrero, Iñaki Isasi, Roberto Laiseka, Iñigo Landaluze, Alberto López de Muñain, Egoi Martínez, José Alberto Martínez, Ibán Mayo, Samuel Sánchez, Aitor Silloniz, Josu Silloniz, César Solaun, Haimar Zubeldia, Joseba Zubeldia.
• 2003 Euskaltel-Euskadi (24): Gorka Arrizabalaga, Mikel Artetxe, Rubén Díaz de Cerio, David Etxebarria, Unai Etxebarria, Lander Euba, Julen Fernández, Iker Flores, Dionisio Galparsoro, Gorka Gerrikagoitia, Gorka González, David Herrero, Iñaki Isasi, Roberto Laiseka, Iñigo Landaluze, Alberto López de Muñain, Egoi Martínez, José Alberto Martínez, Ibán Mayo, Samuel Sánchez, Aitor Silloniz, Josu Silloniz, Haimar Zubeldia, Joseba Zubeldia.
• 2004 Euskaltel-Euskadi (25): Joseba Albizu, Gorka Arrizabalaga, Mikel Artetxe, Iker Camaño, David Etxebarria, Unai Etxebarria, Koldo Fernández de Larrea, Iker Flores, Dionisio Galparsoro, Gorka González, Markel Irizar, Iñaki Isasi, Roberto Laiseka, Iñigo Landaluze, Alberto López de Muñain, Antton Luengo, Egoi Martínez, Ibán Mayo, Aketza Peña, Samuel Sánchez, Aitor Silloniz, Josu Silloniz, Gorka Verdugo, Haimar Zubeldia, Joseba Zubeldia.
• 2005 Euskaltel-Euskadi (26): Joseba Albizu, Igor Antón, Mikel Artetxe, Iker Camaño, Unai Etxebarria, Koldo Fernández de Larrea, Iker Flores, Aitor González, Gorka González, David Herrero, Markel Irizar, Iñaki Isasi, Roberto Laiseka, Iñigo Landaluze, Alberto López de Muñain, Davíd López García, Antton Luengo, Egoi Martínez, Ibán Mayo, Aketza Peña, Samuel Sánchez, Aitor Silloniz, Josu Silloniz, Gorka Verdugo, Haimar Zubeldia, Joseba Zubeldia.
• 2006 Euskaltel-Euskadi (29): Joseba Albizu, Beñat Albizuri, Igor Antón, Andoni Aranaga, Iker Camaño, Unai Etxebarria, Koldo Fernández de Larrea, Iker Flores, Gorka González, Aitor Hernández, David Herrero, Iban Iriondo, Markel Irizar, Iñaki Isasi, Roberto Laiseka, Iñigo Landaluze, Davíd López García, Antton Luengo, Ibán Mayo, Ibán Mayoz, Aketza Peña, Álan Pérez Lezaun, Rubén Pérez Moreno, Samuel Sánchez, Josu Silloniz, Unai Uribarri, Gorka Verdugo, Haimar Zubeldia, Joseba Zubeldia.
• 2007 Euskaltel-Euskadi (29): Beñat Albizuri, Igor Antón, Lander Aperribay, Andoni Aranaga, Mikel Astarloza, Jorge Azanza, Jon Bru, Unai Etxebarria, Koldo Fernández de Larrea, Aitor Galdós, Dionisio Galparsoro, Aitor Hernández, Iban Iriondo, Markel Irizar, Iñaki Isasi, Andoni Lafuente, Iñigo Landaluze, Antton Luengo, Ibán Mayoz, Juan José Oroz, Álan Pérez Lezaun, Rubén Pérez Moreno, Samuel Sánchez, Amets Txurruka, Unai Uribarri, Iván Velasco, Gorka Verdugo, Haimar Zubeldia, Joseba Zubeldia.
• 2008 Euskaltel-Euskadi (26): Beñat Albizuri, Josu Agirre, Igor Antón, Lander Aperribay, Javier Aramendía, Mikel Astarloza, Jorge Azanza, Jon Bru, Koldo Fernández de Larrea, Aitor Galdós, Dionisio Galparsoro, Aitor Hernández, Markel Irizar, Iñaki Isasi, Andoni Lafuente, Iñigo Landaluze, Antton Luengo, Egoi Martínez, Juan José Oroz, Álan Pérez Lezaun, Rubén Pérez Moreno, Samuel Sánchez, Amets Txurruka, Iván Velasco, Gorka Verdugo, Haimar Zubeldia.
• 2009 Euskaltel-Euskadi (23): Josu Agirre, Igor Antón, Javier Aramendía, Mikel Astarloza, Jorge Azanza, Sergio De Lis, Koldo Fernández de Larrea, Aitor Galdós, Aitor Hernández, Markel Irizar, Iñaki Isasi, Andoni Lafuente, Iñigo Landaluze, Egoi Martínez, Mikel Nieve, Juan José Oroz, Álan Pérez Lezaun, Rubén Pérez Moreno, Samuel Sánchez, Amets Txurruka, Pablo Urtasun, Iván Velasco, Gorka Verdugo.
• 2010 Euskaltel Euskadi (24): Igor Antón, Javier Aramendía, Jorge Azanza, Jonathan Castroviejo, Sergio De Lis, Koldo Fernández de Larrea, Aitor Galdós, Aitor Hernández, Beñat Intxausti, Iñaki Isasi, Gorka Izagirre, Egoi Martínez, Miguel Mínguez, Mikel Nieve, Juan José Oroz, Álan Pérez Lezaun, Rubén Pérez Moreno, Samuel Sánchez, Daniel Sesma, Romain Sicard, Amets Txurruka, Pablo Urtasun, Iván Velasco, Gorka Verdugo.
• 2011 Euskaltel Euskadi (25): Igor Antón, Javier Aramendía, Mikel Astarloza, Jorge Azanza, Peio Bilbao, Jonathan Castroviejo, Pierre Cazaux, Koldo Fernández de Larrea, Iñaki Isasi, Gorka Izagirre, Jon Izagirre, Mikel Landa, Egoi Martínez, Miguel Mínguez, Mikel Nieve, Juan José Oroz, Álan Pérez Lezaun, Rubén Pérez Moreno, Samuel Sánchez, Daniel Sesma, Romain Sicard, Amets Txurruka, Pablo Urtasun, Iván Velasco, Gorka Verdugo.
• 2012 Euskaltel Euskadi (23): Igor Antón, Mikel Astarloza, Jorge Azanza, Peio Bilbao, Victor Cabedo, Pierre Cazaux, Ricardo García, Gorka Izagirre, Jon Izagirre, Mikel Landa, Egoi Martínez, Miguel Mínguez, Mikel Nieve, Juan José Oroz, Álan Pérez Lezaun, Rubén Pérez Moreno, Adrián Sáez de Arregi, Samuel Sánchez, Romain Sicard, Amets Txurruka, Pablo Urtasun, Iván Velasco, Gorka Verdugo.
• 2013 Euskaltel Euskadi (29): Jon Aberasturi, Igor Antón, Mikel Astarloza, Jorge Azanza, Peio Bilbao, Garikoitz Bravo, Tarik Chaoufi, Ricardo García, Gorka Izagirre, Ion Izagirre, Jure Kocjan, Mikel Landa, Juan José Lobato, Egoi Martínez, Ricardo Mestre, Miguel Minguez, Mikel Nieve, Juan José Oroz, Rubén Pérez, Steffen Radochla, Adrián Sáez, Samuel Sánchez, André Schulze, Alexandre Serebryakov, Romain Sicard, Ioannis Tamouridis, Pablo Urtasun, Gorka Verdugo, Robert Vrecer

Victor Cabedo

• Full name: Victor Cabedo Carda
• 15.06.1989 - 19.09.2012
• Place of birth: Onda, Valencia
• Turned professional: 2011
• Joined Euskaltel: 2012
• Previous teams: Orbea (2011)
• Palmarès: 1st: Stage 4 Vuelta a Asturias 2011

The one team man

Like team captain and friend Samuel Sánchez, Igor Antón is very much dedicated to the cause. The 28-year-old told Basque daily DEIA that he would have stayed at the team even if Euskaltel hadn't been allocated a WorldTour-licence, and he envisages staying at the team as long as it's operational.

"I signed a two-year deal in 2010, and it never crossed my mind to break that contract", he explained. "Of course, sometimes it is tempting to discover what it's like at other teams, but I've always wanted to retire here. It would make me proud if I one day am able to say that I spent my entire career here, from the first day 'till the last. I'll only leave this squad if it ceases to exist".

Due to Euskaltel's limited budget, it's no secret that Antón would have earned better money at a bigger team. The lure of higher wages have tempted many a rider to leave the their home team over the years, but for Antón it's never been about the money.

"Money is an important ingredient, but the sense of self-realization is what makes you do this for a living. Take a guy like Laiseka for example: injuries put paid to his career, but I'm sure he would have continued to ride for Euskaltel for nothing. I appreciate the money I'm earning, but I'm not wasting it. I know riders who, in their first year as professionals and with their first pay-checks, go and buy a car. I didn't buy a car until last year. It's a matter of priorities; mine was never the money".

Astarloza set for 2012 Tour

Mikel Astarloza will in 2012, for the first time since that ill-fated 2009 edition, return to the Tour de France. The 32-year-old famously took a solo win on stage 16 into Bourg-Saint-Maurice in that year's race, but a subsequent EPO positive stripped the Pasajes-native of both his win and his honour. Now ready to embark on his first full season in the orange jersey, Astarloza will be one of Samu's right-hand men come July.

The rider reveals as much - as well as his race schedule leading up to the Grand Boucle - on his personal website. Astarloza is set for a year full of top-quality races, a year which may commence in Australia. At the time being it's still an unknown if he'll do the antipodean six-stage race, but, aside from that particular race, his schedule is pretty much set in stone:

• (Tour Down Under, 17-24 January)
• Challenge Mallorca, 5-9 February
• Vuelta a Andalucía, 19-23 February
• Paris-Nice, 4-11 March
• Critérium International, 24-25 March
• Vuelta al País Vasco, 2-7 April
• Amstel Gold Race, 15 April
• Fleche Wallonne, 18 April
• Liège-Bastogne-Liège, 22 April
• Tour de Romandi, 24-29 April
• Tour de Suisse, 9-17 June
• Tour de France, 30 June - 22 July

If Astarloza does go on to race in Australia (and the entire Challenge Mallorca), by my calculations he'll have done a full 50 days of racing prior to the Tour. That sounds excessive, but then again he's always been the type of rider - call it old-school if you like - doing a lot of racing versus training. Anyway, his top-level calendar proves he's once again back among the most trusted riders at Euskaltel.

Landa breaks collarbone

Mikel Landa has broken his collarbone for a third time this year, BiciCiclismo reports. The soon-to-be 22-year-old, who grabbed an impressive summit-finish win at the Lagunas de Neila in the Vuelta a Burgos this summer, broke the same collarbone (his right) at the Vuelta a Murcia and the Critérium du Dauphiné earlier this season. The well-informed Spanish website has it that Landa suffered the misfortune at the team training camp on Wednesday. Allegedly he was trying to catch up with his team-mates after a puncture, but then came a cropper on the wet roads. The Murgia-native will undergo surgery in Bilbao this coming Wednesday.

Vuelta al País Vasco 2012

The Vuelta al País Vasco will, as is the case every year, be the focal point of Euskaltel's 2012 season. The organizers of the team's home race yesterday revealed next year's recorrido - a route including two summit finishes.

The race - still a vital part of the UCI's WorldTour - will be held over six stages from the 2nd to the 7th of april over the following terrain:

Stage 1: Gueñes - Gueñes

Stage 2: Gueñes - Vitoria-Gasteiz

Stage 3: Vitoria-Gasteiz - Alto de Iberdin (Bera de Bidasoa)

Stage 4: Bera de Bidasoa - Santuario de Arrate

Stage 5: Eibar - Oñati

Stage 6: Oñati - Oñati (ITT)

The route is pretty similar to what's been the norm the last few years: several medium mountain days bookended with a final day time trial from and to the much-used location of Oñati, northeast of Vitoria-Gasteiz. What's new (and needed) though, is the inclusion of not one, but two mountain top finishes. We all know the Arrate, site of the finish of stage 4, but the climb of Iberdin will be knew to most of us. Once a mainstay of the race, the slopes of Iberdin hasn't featured since 1994 and is likely to tip the race more in the favour of the pure climbers (read Samu, Contador, Antón) than the puncheurs with time trial pedigree. Especially so considering the punishing Arrate is up the next day. Distinguishes riders like Gorospe, Chiapucci, Bolts and Cassani have all come out tops on the Iberdin in the past - the next one to do so might just go on to win the whole race.

Samu will lead the charge for Euskaltel and is as usual one of the pre-race favourites. Contador has stated his intention of taking part (is he's cleared of wrongdoing in the ever-lasting clenbuterol affair by the CAS that is), and the Schlecks have done the same. I assume Alejandro Valverde will also make an appearance, so the competition is likely to be fiercer than ever (but then again we say that every year). No matter the participation though, the inclusion of the Iberdin and the Arrate make the Vuelta al País Vasco stand out as one of the races to watch in 2o12.

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.

Factfile

Name: Euskaltel Euskadi

Based: Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain

Category: UCI ProTeam

UCI code: EUS

Founded: 1994

Budget: 6,8 mill. euro

Bicycle supplier: Orbea (esp)

Key personnel:

• General manager: Igor González de Galdeano
• Sport directors: Gorka Gerrikagoitia, Álvaro González de Galdeano, Iñaki Isasi, Óscar Guerrero
• Coaches and reserve sport directors: Álex Díaz, Josu Bilbao,
• Doctors: Eduardo González Salvador, Sergio Quílez
• Masseurs: Borja Rodríguez, Andoni Arce, Ivan Armentia, Miguel Caravaca, Xabier Carbayeda, Joseba Lekue, Rufino Murguía
• Mechanics: Luís Lamas, Tomás Amezaga, Eneko Larrea, Joxe Nazabal, José Cruz Mujicay
• Psychologist: Sergio Torres
• Press officer: Jesus Aizkorbe

(In total, Euskaltel Euskadi's staff counts 44 people)

Fundación Euskadi structure:

• President: Miguel Madariaga Barrinaga
• Vice president: Iñaki Zarate Barrenetxea
• Members: José María Izaguirre Urquijo, José Javier Erkoreka Zulueta, Iñigo Urretxua García de la Vega
• Secretary: José Javier García Ros
• Treasurer: Pablo Allende Villanueva

Briefs

• According to Miguel Madariaga, the team has brought telephone company Euskaltel an advertising value of approximately 120 million euro so far this year. The team has had the most exposure in Spain, France and the USA, but has also had presence in remote countries like Madagascar, Oman and Angola. The team's budget this year was 6,8 million euro - a far cry from the 27 million pesetas-budget (which corresponds to 160 000 euros) in the team's inaugural season back in 1994.
• As was revealed yesterday, Euskaltel's 'big three' - Sánchez, Antón and Nieve - will all get their 2012 seasons underway at the Challenge Mallorca. Given that Cadel Evans and the Schlecks are also slated for the race, it'll be an interesting gauge of early-season form.
• The disappearance of HTC and the merger of the 'Shack and Leopard have left many riders scrambling for a ride for next year. But as GARA pointed out a few days ago, Euskaltel would not have been a part of the UCI's 2012 WorldTour if it hadn't been for those developments. HTC, Leopard and the 'Shack would all have finished higher up than Euskaltel in the rankings and would have put the team outside the all-important top 20 - thus ruling Euskaltel out of contention for one of the three licences granted to teams ranked 15th to 20th.
• Not sure if Euskaltel's 2011 season betters the legendary 2003? Or for that matter 2010? To put the season into perspective, I've compiled every victory obtained by the team (all 152 of them) into one document. Check out the full list of wins from 1994 to present here or access the overview in the right-hand menu under the 'Euskaltel section'.
• Former Euskaltel great Haimar Zubeldia will be awarded a record-equalling fifth 'Best Basque in the Tour de France'-award this Friday by the Sociedad Urkamendi de Zirzurkil, el Diario Vasco reports. The prize is handed out annually to the highest-placed Basque rider on GC in the Tour, and the resident of Usurbil will join Indurain and Lejarreta as the only rider to have won the award five times. Euskaltel riders Nieve, Jon and Gorka Izagirre will be present at the celebration.
• The mythical ramps of the Arrate will, for the first time since 1974, feature in the Vuelta a España. Click here for more info on stages in the Basque Country next year.
• Euskaltel are apparently counting on support from an unusual source in 2012: the Gods. The team's website reports the team paid a visit to the Basilica of Begoña earlier today, offering the aptly-named parish priest Jesús Francisco de Garitaonandia a signed jersey and a bouquet of flowers. Chapeau!

"I want to retire here"

Despite the off-road travails facing his team, Samuel Sánchez is unequivocal in his stance: he wants to stay for life. He told BiciCiclismo as much at the team's pre-season camp in Derio yesterday.

"I've always said this is where I want to end my career. As I'm turning 34 in three months time, retirement is something I'm thinking more and more about", he admitted. "I feel a deep affection for the team, for Miguel (Madariaga), for everything that makes this team what it is. That's why I hope to retire here. Euskaltel deserve that - they gave me the chance to ride my bike for a living. Ending my career here would be my tribute to the team".

Despite apparently giving retirement a lot of thought, the Olympic champ is not planning to hang up the wheels anytime soon though.

"As I've said time and time again: I'll ride my bike as long as I like doing it. The day training becomes a struggle and results elude me, it'll be time to say goodbye. As long as I'm motivated and healthy I'll keep going. The 2014 Worlds in Ponferrada would be a nice experience, but I'll only stay on if I feel fit and competitive."

Calendars revealed

Gorka Gerrikagoitia has revealed the schedules of his three most prized assets: Mikel Nieve, Igor Antón and Samuel Sánchez. The former will race exclusively in Spain in the lead-up to the Giro, while Antón will take in the Ardennes Classics and, for the first time, the Tour of Poland prior to the Vuelta. Contrary to what the rider himself said yesterday, it looks likely Samu will indeed ride the hilly classics. These schedules are preliminary, mind you. Here goes:

• Mikel Nieve: Challenge Mallorca, Clásica Almería, Vuelta a Murcia, Volta a Catalunya, GP Miguel Indurain, Klasika Primavera, Vuelta Castilla y León, GP Llodio, Vuelta La Rioja and Giro d'Italia.
• Igor Antón: Challenge Mallorca, Vuelta a Andalucía, Paris-Nice, Volta a Catalunya, GP Miguel Indurain, Klasika Primavera, (Vuelta al País Vasco?), Vuelta a Castilla y León, Fleche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tour de Romandia, Vuelta a Madrid, Tour of Poland, Klasika Ordizia, Clásica San Sebastián, Vuelta a Burgos and Vuelta a España.
• Samuel Sánchez: Challenge Mallorca, Vuelta a Andalucía, Clásica Almería, Vuelta a Murcia, Volta a Catalunya, Vuelta al País Vasco, Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Criterium du Dauphiné and Tour de France.

Source: www.biciciclismo.com