Tour and Poland round-up

Euskaltel were pretty anonymous on today's spectacular stage 11 to the top of the Toussuire. Rubén Pérez and Gorka Izagirre both tried their hand early on, but none were able to get into the right moves. Egoi Martínez put in another strong ride just a day after being in the main break, coming home 26th to climb to 22nd on GC. A highly respectable performance from the veteran, who's leading the team by example so far in this Tour.

Stage 11 results:

• (1, Pierre Rolland (Europcar), 4:43:54)
• 26, Egoi Martínez, 12:04
• 67, Jorge Azanza, 25:43
• 68, Gorka Izagirre, s.t.
• 86, Pablo Urtasun, 29:32
• 122, Rubén Pérez, 33:20

Over in Poland, Euskaltel had another low-key performance as the team once again failed to infiltrate the main break. Antón and Izagirre stayed with the pack to stay in contention for a decent overall placing, but other than that there's not much to write home about.

Stage three results:

• (1, Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-Quick.Step), 5:01:51)
• 38, Ion Izagirre, s.t.
• 39, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 65, Romain Sicard, 0:42
• 89, Miguel Minguez, 3:14
• 106, Juan José Oroz, 6:11
• 163, Pierre Cazaux, 10:46
• 165, Alan Pérez, s.t.
• 188, Adrián Sáez, 12:25

Izagirre brothers head to Ordizia

Both Ion and Gorka Izagirre will be at the start line of the 2012 edition of the Clásica de Ordizia in late July, BiciCiclismo reports today.

Gorka, currently in France racing the Tour, is of course a previous winner of the Spanish 1.1-ranked event, and will be back at the race for the first time since his win two years ago. Ion, at the moment racing in Poland, was sixth last year, and together they should stand a good chance of bagging a top result.

Peio Bilbao, Ricardo García, Mikel Landa, Alan Pérez, Juanjo Oroz, Miguel Minguez, Gorka Verdugo and Iván Velasco will complete the line-up on July the 25h.

Full start list here.

Photo: www.deia.com

Martínez makes his mark in France

Egoi Martínez put on the kind of brave display the team needed after its recent travails on today's stage ten. While the win eluded the ever-aggressive 34-year-old, he finished up a respectable seventh.

The first real day in the mountains was a 194,5km trek from Mâcon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, a day seemingly made for the breakaway artists of the peloton. As such it was no surprise to see Martínez, a usual suspect, escape with a couple of dozen other riders relatively early on.

A natural selection was made on the demanding Col du Grand Colombier, and the Euskaltel rider was not able to keep up the pace enforced by Luisle Sánchez, Voeckler, Devenyns and Scarponi. Stuck behind in the second group was Martínez, Voigt, Casar and Fofonov, but, despite never letting the lead quartet get too far away, this group was never able to catch up with the frontrunners. Except for Voigt though, who used his superhuman will and tremendous power to bridge up just in time to contest the stage. Voeckler timed his move to perfection, while Martínez had to settle for seventh in the end.

As a consequence of coming in some 30 seconds ahead of the first part of the peloton, Martínez advanced to 24th on GC.

"I'm happy with my ride", he said to the team's website post-race. "It was a high-quality break; you only need to look at their names and their palmares. To be ahead up until the very last moment is very difficult, and I wasn't far off, so I'm pleased with my level of form. I felt good, and you can't ask for more when you give it your all. Our goal is to be in the breaks and fight for stages now, and we'll do our best", he said.

And will he get into more breaks?

"Efforts like today take their toll, so tomorrow I'll try to take it easy in the hope of recovering well. But I hope to have one more chance later on in the race".

Gorka Izagirre made me look like a fool today with a performance that ruled him out of the running for a top 20 overall. The 24-year-old somehow managed to come in dead last more than half an hour back, but there's no indication he struggled with sickness or mechanical trouble. Perhaps he was just saving up some energy for a breakaway attempt tomorrow, who knows? Anyway, tomorrow's stage to La Toussuire - where Ibán Mayo triumphed in 2006 - promises to be an enticing one. Expect to see a rider or two in orange up the road.

Stage ten results:

• (1, Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), 4:46:26)
• 7, Egoi Martínez, 2:44
• 117, Jorge Azanza, 27:27
• 118, Rubén Pérez, s.t.
• 159, Pablo Urtasun, 31:55
• 175, Gorka Izagirre, s.t.

Photo: www.cyclingnews.com

Izagirre stays strong in Poland

Ion Izagirre gave further proof of his relatively strong form in Poland today with a solid ride on day two.

The marathon-like 240km ride from Walbrzych to Opole was always destined for a bunch sprint, and that's how it turned out as Swift edged out Liquigas' Viviani and Omega Pharma's Boonen to claim the win. A 99-man strong peloton came home on the same time as the speedy Brit, among them Ion Izagirre and Romain Sicard. Izagirre thus rose to 15th on GC, and might well challenge for a top ten overall in light of the hilly stages to come later on in the race. He's now ten seconds off overall leader and yesterday's victor Moreno Moser of Liquigas.

Igor Antón had a somewhat disappointing day in the saddle, crossing the line a minute and nine seconds in arrears.

Stage two results:

• (1, Ben Swift (Sky), 5:49:57)
• 44, Ion Izagirre, s.t.
• 93, Romain Sicard, s.t.
• 124, Alan Pérez, 1:09
• 128, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 129, Juan José Oroz, s.t.
• 142, Pierre Cazaux, s.t.
• 177, Adrián Sáez, 4:23
• 189, Miguel Minguez, 7:22

Photo: www.cyclingnews.com

Samuel Sánchez video interview

Crocked Euskaltel captain Samuel Sánchez is hoping to get back on the rollers in the near future. "As soon as the pain in my back disappears", he'll try to keep his legs turning with a view to making the London Olympics, he told Gijon-based newspaper El Comercio. Watch the video below to see Samuel, sporting a pique with the Norwegian flag on it, talk the reporter through his recovery and hopes for the remainder of the season:

Open letter from Tour riders

Besides taking their bikes out for a spin for an hour and a half, the remaining Euskaltel riders at the Tour spent the day writing an open letter to the public. I've tried translating most of it for you, and here goes:

We haven't slept well the last few nights. Mikel, Amets, Samuel and Gorka abandoning has been a setback. We came to the Tour with all the motivation in the world, but over the course of two days we've taken hard hits. It costs to absorb what's happened to us. To prepare for the Tour takes much time and effort. 


But it is what it is, and we're in no doubt we'll rise to the challenge and defend Euskaltel's jersey with pride every time we put a back number on. To ride with this jersey is a responsibility and a privilege. We're at the best race in the world, and we know what everything we do in this race will be noticeable worldwide. It's time to step forward.


Days like those of Cotobello or Bilbao spring to mind. Days where we were able to show just what this jersey means to us shortly after being hit by bad luck. That's not to say we'll repeat those feats, but we can assure you that we'll do our utmost to make you feel you're a part of our effort. That would be our greatest reward. That would be our best tribute.


We know you'll be at home or in the gutters riding with us. Now that we're five, we need you more than ever. We've got two weeks of riding ahead of us. On the "Radio Tour" you'll once again hear that an Euskaltel rider is in the breakaway. We'll fight for a stage win we would dedicate to everyone, with special hugs for Amets, Samuel, Mikel and Gorka. Because we know you're suffering more at home than on the bike. Because we miss you.


Thank you. 

Poland stage 1: Izagirre and Antón show form

Jon Izagirre and Igor Antón showed their form is there or thereabouts in today's first stage of the Tour of Poland.

The opening leg, a 179,5km ride from Golebiewski to Jelenia Góra, was taken out by precocious Liquigas puncheur Moreno Moser, who made a brave dash for the line inside the last 350 metres and held on for an impressive win ahead of a bunch of sprinters. 32 riders made it to the line on this unusually hard opener on the same time as young Moser - Ion Izagirre and Igor Antón being two of them.

Results stage 1:

• (1, Moreno Moser (Loquigas), 4:32:53)
• 17, Ion Izagirre, s.t.
• 30, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 56, Romain Sicard, 1:13
• 86, Miguel Minguez, 3:51
• 88, Alan Pérez, s.t.
• 135, Adrián Sáez, 12:30
• 165, Pierre Cazaux, 13:54
• 167, Juan José Oroz, s.t.

Time to step up

With Samuel Sánchez out of the game, the team's remaining five riders have a unique opportunity to chase their own goals in the world's biggest race. Should they all just aim for breaks, though, or should they aim for bigger prizes?

Pablo Urtasun: Should definitely aim to get into every possible break. Came oh so close to grabbing a sensational win on stage five, and looks to be in top shape after a questionable lead-up to the race. Climbs better than all the other fast finishers present, and should thrive on the medium mountain days.

Egoi Martínez: As he doesn't possess as fast a finish as Urtasun and Rubén Pérez, should, in my opinion, give it one last go for the climber's jersey. Has come close several times in the past, and, as there's no Contador, Schleck or Samu, and with possible contenders Gesink, Vanendert and Mollema seemingly not at their a-game, should stand a good chance as his climbing looks to be decent so far.

Rubén Pérez: Should do like Urtasun, but perhaps on days less hilly. A Tour win would be long overdue and most deserving, and there'll be plenty of chances in the remaining two weeks.

Gorka Izagirre: Probably the team's best bet for a stage win from a break on hilly and/or flat terrain. At the same time, though, he looks to be capable of posting a top 20 in Paris. In his best form of 2012, Izagirre could well emulate his younger brother by taking a GT stage win, but then again a decent overall placing would also be of value to the team. Judging by team DS Gorka Gerrikagoitia's recent comments, pretty much everyone on the team will now aim for stages, so Izagirre is likely to do the same.

Jorge Azanza: Could be a valuable helper in a break alongside one of his team-mates. Decent climber when in shape, and should aim to join the likes of Martínez, Izagirre and co. when they jump clear.

Photo: www.fundacioneuskadi.com

Why Samu's crash is such a disaster

While crashing out of the Tour as a podium contender is always a bitter pill to swallow, Samu's enforced abandonment may have wider implications for the team than a mere no-show in the biggest race of the year.

Going into the Tour, Euskaltel had a healthy amount of WorldTour points to their name (374 to be precise). However, if Euskaltel were to stand a realistic chance of staying in the WorldTour on sporting criteria alone, they were highly dependent on the points brought in by Samu's likely high overall placing. A top five, for sure within his reach, would have provided Euskaltel with a considerable chunk of points. With him gone, not to mention potential stage animators Txurruka, Astarloza and Verdugo,  Euskaltel risk leaving the Tour without a single point more than what they had at the start in Liège. Now I'm not saying the guys still in the race can't grab a few points, on their day most of them can, but even a stage win wouldn't get close to making up for a high overall placing points-wise.

An anonymous and low-key performance in the Tour is not the end of the world by any means. Obviously it's the biggest race in the world and the centrepiece of most teams' seasons, but there's not a lot you can do if luck's not on your side. The problem is that few points at the Tour can result in Euskaltel needing to buy non-Basques come the end of the season to stay WorldTour.

With Antón, and perhaps the Tour DNFs as well, set to line up in the Vuelta, there's every chance the team might grab quite a few points towards the rankings. But banking on Antón delivering is a risky business, and Euskaltel might well come up short when the UCI's license commission is set to decide on who to award licenses to later this year. If that indeed turns out to be case, incoming general manager Igor González de Galdeano has stated he might dip into the worldwide market to secure the team's stay at the top table of cycling.

Photo: www.deia.com

Izagirre goes strong in Tour TT

Gorka Izagirre showed once again he's a man to be reckoned with on all terrain with a solid individual time trial today.

The 24-year-old placed a decent 38th in the 41,5 km test against the clock from Arc-et-Senans to Besancon, and thus only dropped one place on GC. He's now a highly creditable 26th on GC heading into the first rest day, and with the form he's been showing, coupled with the fact that he'll be free to do whatever he wants now that Samu is out of the race, he can well go on to finish top 20 if he aims for it.

Egoi Martínez also had an okay day in the saddle, taking 60th on the day and also dropping only one place on GC to 33rd.

Stage nine results:

• (1, Bradley Wiggins (Sky), 51:24:00)
• 38, Gorka Izagirre, 4:20
• 60, Egoi Martínez, 5:13
• 81, Jorge Azanza, 5:48
• 124, Rubén Pérez, 7:14
• 146, Pablo Urtasun, 8:07

General classification:

• (1, Bradley Wiggins (Sky), 39:09:20)
• 26, Gorka Izagirre, 10:25
• 33, Egoi Martínez, 15:18
• 77, Jorge Azanza, 35:30
• 103, Rubén Pérez, 41:22
• 165, Pablo Urtasun, 1:05:16

Photo: www.fundacioneuskadi.com

Samu not giving up on London Olympics

Despite breaking a bone in his arm, badly bruising his collarbone and taking a hit to his back with less than three weeks to go before the Olympic road race, Euskaltel captain Samuel Sánchez refuses to give up on his dream of defending his gold from Beijing.

Speaking from the IMQ clinic in Zorrozaurre, Bilbao, the Asturian told Europa Press that "we'll do everything in our power to get to London, but we'll see what happens".

Samu was initially selected into Spain's team alongside Movistar duo Valverde and Rojas, Katusha's Freire and Rabobank's Sánchez, but team boss José Luis De Santos faces a headache with everyone but Valverde and Sánchez already forced out of the Tour due to injuries. And it's not like Luisle is in perfect shape either, having injured his scaphoid early on in France.

Talking about Samu's injuries, doctors Mújika and Arrien explained he suffered "a head injury with brief loss of consciousness and immediate recovery", but there's no "worrying neurological signs or symptoms". The neurological examination was "perfectly normal".

De Santos is yet to comment on the make-up of his team and whether he'll make any changes to his five-man squad.

Photo: www.cyclingnews.com

Astarloza on the mend

Mikel Astarloza won't have to wait long before getting back on his bike, BiciCiclismo reports.

The 32-year-old crashed out of the Tour on stage six with a dislocated elbow, but will not need an operation, for now, and will be able to log long hours on the rollers in the near future. To start with, he'll wear an orthopedic brace.

There's no news yet on when he might return to competition.

Photo: www.cyclingnews.com

Tour of Poland line-up

Igor Antón will continue his lead-up to the Vuelta a España by headlining Euskaltel's team in the Tour of Poland.

The week-long WorldTour stage race gets underway tomorrow, and will see the following octet line up: Igor Antón, Adrián Sáez, Miguel Minguez, Ion Izagirre, Juan José Oroz, Romain Sicard, Pierre Cazaux and Alan Pérez.

While few are likely to be in top shape as it's the first race of the second part of the season for the majority of them, the pressure to secure WorldTour points is on as Euskaltel is likely to collect few, if any, at the Tour de France. Luckily, in that regard, there's no ITT to negotiate, and they should be able to animate the race in the race's hilly latter stages. Jon Izagirre ended up 17th last year, but his form is an unknown as he's only ridden the Spanish road race champs since his Giro heroics.

Check out the stages here.

"I'm demoralized, desperate"

One might think Amets Txurruka would have gotten used to packing his bags early and head home with his arm in a plaster after three collarbone fractures in six Tour de France starts. In an interview with Noticias de Álava, he says he's everything but.

"It's not normal I break my clavicle so many times", he said. "I'm desperate, demoralized, everything... It sucks to go home early. It cost me a lot to get here, and now I'm heading home without having contributed. I've spent all week waiting for the mountains, and now I won't get the chance to do my work."

Read the full interview with Amets Txurruka here.