Briefs

• Mikel Landa wasn't the only one to injure his collarbone at the team's recent training camp it transpires. El Diario Vasco reports ace climber Iván Velasco his the deck and took a hit to his right clavicle - but escaped fracture. The 31-year-old only sustained a fissure fracture, and will hope to resume normal training on Monday. According to the man himself, the crash hasn't set his preparations for the upcoming season back, a season that's set to commence at the Clásica de Almería in February. Velasco will then embark on an exclusive Spanish calendar leading up to his major goal of the year: the Giro. The native of Arrasate will take on Murcia, Catalunya, Indurain, Amorebieta, Castilla y León and La Rioja in the hope of reaching peak form in May.
• Which one of the Izagirre brothers is the strongest? To find out what Jon and Gorka mean, check out el Pedal de Frodo's interview with Euskaltel's fifth pair of siblings here.
• Released Naturgas Energía rider Efrén Carazo will turn professional with home team Burgos 2016 next year, www.biciciclismo.com says. El Correo de Burgos reported a few weeks back that the youngster was on the verge of signing with Andrés Izquierdo's Continental team, and, according to BiciCiclismo, that's now been done. He's thus set to become the 14th Spanish neo-pro in 2012.
• Ever wondered who lined up for Euskaltel in their maiden 1994 season? Who made up the roster of that golden class of 2003? Or who'll don the orange jersey next year? Find out under the 'Euskaltel section' on your rigth - at 'Team rosters, 1994-present', I've compiled the complete list of riders ever to have represented the team, when they did so, and who they lined up alongside.

Camaño happy with Endura adventure

After having spent nine years at the very top level of professional cycling, former Euskaltel utility man Iker Camaño joined Britain-based Continental team Endura Racing midway through the 2010 season. Two seasons at Phonak, three at Euskaltel and four at Saunier Duval (in it's various guises) brought him a solid reputation but not a single win. Last year alone saw the 32-year-old pull four wins out of the hat. No wonder he's enjoying riding his bike these days.

"Everything went perfectly last year", Camaño told El Correo, reflecting on a year that saw him victorious on a stage and in the overall of the Cinturón de Mallorca, a stage of the Tour of Norway, and a team time trial win in the Czech Cycling Tour. The year also brought him a strong sixth place finish at the Tour of Britain. He's hoping for more of the same in 2012:

"On a personal level, a repeat of this year would make 2012 a success. Everything went to plan this season."

"As for the team, the people here are incredible. Endura aim to take another step in the right direction next year".

Endura Racing confirmed towards the end of October that the native of Santurtzi, Bizkaia, was retained for the coming season. The length of his contract was not disclosed.

Zikliamatore 2011. Buy it. Now.

I don't usually advertise for any products whatsoever on this site, but I owe this one to Iñaki Azanza. The photographer, who travels the world in search of the best pics of the sport, be it on the road, the track or in the mud, has for the last few years supplied this blog with top-end material straight from the races. For free. He's recently launched the 2011 edition of Zikliamatore; a publication featuring 250 of the best photos from the recently-concluded season. So if you're into cycling, like the look of it on film and want a review of 2011 in pictures, you could do worse than checking into either his own webpage or Urtekaria's webshop and acquire a copy for 10 euros. I have the latest edition (as well as the two previous ones), and it's phenomenal. Go check it out.

Murgoitio excels; Hernández repeats

Egoitz Murgoitio once again proved to be Aitor Hernández's nemesis this afternoon at a Spanish Cup-race in Cantabria, www.biciciclismo.com reports. The Hirumet Taldea rider once again came out tops in Puente Viesgo, beating (or is that crushing?) the Orbea rider by a big 1:08. Isaac Suarez of Bio Racer closed out the top three, while Aketza Peña - still struggling to rediscover last year's form - came home 2:17 in arrears in sixth place.

A noteworthy name on the start list was road race Óscar Pujol. The former Cervélo and Omega Pharma rider is still searching for a team for 2012 (as far as I know, anyway), and finished up in 27th place.

Hernández outgunned by Murgoitio

Aitor Hernández once again had to settle for second behind the untouchable Egoitz Murgoitio in today's cyclo-cross race in Asteasu. Murgoitio was in a league of his own right from the off and rode away with his ninth victory of the year, while the former Euskaltel man had little trouble is distancing 2010 cross-country world champ Hermida to finish on the second step of the podium a significant 1:55 in arrears. Former national champ and Kaiku road racer Javier Ruíz de Larriñaga finished up fourth, while Orbea stalwart Rubén Ruzafa rounded out the top five. Aketza Peña, who also spent his younger years riding on the road for Euskaltel, ended up a distant eighth.

"I was lucky"

They say cycling is the toughest sport there is. That means cyclists have to be tougher than most other athletes out there. Markel Irizar is proof of that. The former Euskaltel rider sustained a broken jaw, a broken finger and various other injuries to his face (which the picture above displays so eloquently) on Saturday afternoon when out training. 24 hours later, the rouleur is in good spirits and says he feels "lucky".

"I haven't broken any teeth and, gladly, I don't have to get my jaw operated on. My hand is nothing. Therefore, all in all, I have to be happy. I was lucky", he told el Diario Vasco on Sunday.

Like cyclists who have taken a hit to the head tend to, he doesn't remember anything from the episode.

"I remember I was out training - I planned to ride from Osintxu to Bergara. The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital. I don't remember anything from the incident itself. I crashed, obviously, but how it came about I don't know. I was on my own, going fast, that much I know. The terrain, being flat, lends itself to that kind of riding. I was supposed to meet up with Haimar (Zubeldia) and Amets (Txurruka), but at the time I was riding alone. After having spent a bit of time at the hospital, I saw Haimar had tried to call me."

If ever there is a "good" time to crash, November and December represent the ideal time to do so as the season is still some way off. Irizar acknowledges as much, saying:

"It won't hamper my preparations that much. It's still early December, so I've got time on my side to get into decent shape for the start of the season. I'll take a few days off as a precaution, and then restart training".

Zubeldia set for Tour-Vuelta double

Haimar Zubeldia will once again embark on a season brimming with big races. The reliable 34-year-old will, as has become the norm, take on both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España for his team RadioShack - Nissan Trek in 2012, and will do most of his other racing in Spain, BiciCiclismo reports.

Like pretty much every other Spaniard in the peloton, Zubeldia will kick off his season at the Challenge Mallorca in early February. He'll then head on to the Vuelta a Andalucía before testing his legs at the Volta a Catalunya, a race he placed third in three years ago. His home race, the Vuelta al País Vasco, then awaits, and in May he'll head over to the States for the Tour of California. Upon returning to Europe, he'll ramp it up for the Tour with the Dauphiné - scene of much success in his younger years at Euskaltel. He'll be one of the Schlecks' main domestiques in France in July, before likely getting the chance to step out of his helper role at the Clásica San Sebastián. He'll close out his season at the Vuelta in September.

Speaking of the merger between the 'Shack and Leopard, the former Euskaltel legend trusts team head Johan Bruyneel to make the riders click.

"It'll be vital to make these two 'groups' one. Johan is capable of doing that, and that was our aim in Spa. We were rivals last year, but this year we'll have to coexist. Normally we'd do our first training camp now, but, as this year's quite different, we spent a couple of days in Spa (before doing this camp in Calpe)", he told www.biciciclismo.com

"Euskaltel were not interested in me"

After his best season yet in 2011, Caja Rural's Egoitz García was touted by some as a potential Euskaltel recruit this winter. Instead, the 25-year-old ended up at Cofidis. Allegedly Euskaltel were not even remotely interested - weird considering he's one of the few Basques out there with all-important UCI points to his name.

"My dream has always been to ride for Euskaltel, but I called them up and they said they weren't interested", the Atxondo-native told Gara. "I then called up Eric Boyer, the Cofidis manager. We didn't talk for long, as I don't really understand French, but I did understand the most important aspect: they wanted me to sign a two-year deal. I didn't have to think it over, there wasn't much to think about really, so I said yes."

The Basque newspaper then quoted former Caja Rural DS Iñaki Juanikorena saying he didn't understand why Euskaltel, with a blatant need for UCI points, didn't pick him up. García was at a loss to explain why.

"I've got 50 points, which in the WorldTour will have to be divided in three... As of yet, I haven't been given the opportunity to ride with my local team despite riding strongly in this year's Vuelta al País Vasco. I hoped Euskaltel would come calling, but they didn't, and I don't really understand why."

García somewhat came of age this year, taking second (only to André Greipel) in a stage of the Tour of Turkey, placing seventh overall in the same race, grabbing fifth in a Tour de Limousin-stage and finishing fifth and sixth at stages in País Vasco. Next year he hopes to make his Grand Tour bow. The Tour is likely to be stretching it in his first year with Cofidis, but a Vuelta appearance would do him just fine.

"Riding the Tour de France would be a dream come true, but the Vuelta is more realistic for me in 2012", he admitted. "I'll do everything in my power to be at my best, and if that takes me to France in July all the better, but I'd be more than pleased with the Vuelta. Most of all I want to get a three-week race under my belt."

Report: Irizar injured in training crash

Former Euskaltel stalwart Markel Irizar crashed heavily while training today, suffering multiple injuries to his face.

BiciCiclismo reports the RadioShack - Nissan Trek rider was taken to a medical center where he was treated for a broken jaw, a broken finger and various facial injuries. He also required several stitches to a wound above his right eye. Irizar will remain under observation at the hospital tonight, and is likely to miss the start (if not the whole thing) of his team's training camp in Calpe, Alicante, starting tomorrow.

A picture of the banged-up 31-year-old can be viewed here.

Hernández crowned Bizkaia champ

Aitor Hernández was crowned cyclo-cross champion of Bizkaia after storming to a commanding solo win in Lezama earlier today. The former Euskaltel climber took advantage of the all-conquering Egoitz Murgoitio's absence to take his second win of the young season. The native of Ermua beat Isaac Suárez by a whopping 38 seconds, while 24-year-old Erlantz Uriarte claimed the last spot on the podium. Top cross-country rider Iñaki Lejarreta, who told Iban Mayo Blog earlier this week that he's channeling all his powers into grabbing one of Spain's three cross-country spots in the Olympics next year, came home fourth.

Jon Gómez Elorriaga beat his brother Iñigo to the under-23 crown, while promising 18-year-old Jonathan Lastra Martínez, who placed 17th at the World Champs for juniors last season, had to settle for third. Eneko Corrales beat the favoured Jonathan Bilbao to the junior crown.

Rubén Pérez looking to emulate 2011

One of Euskaltel's most trusted performers for half a decade, utility man Rubén Pérez, once again showed his worth last year with a stellar campaign. Though he failed to build on his so far only professional victory taken in 2010, the 30-year-old was active throughout the season, grabbed two third places and was at his aggressive best in the Tour de France. Looking towards next year, the native of Zaldibar is hoping for more of the same.

"I started off on the wrong foot last year as I caught a virus in the Tour Down Under. That virus, along with my allergies and the resulting weight-loss, resulted in a bad first half of the season. But I turned it around for the second half of the season and did, in my opinion, a good Tour de France. I got into six breaks, some of them dangerous ones, and of course Samu's win made me proud. Next year, if I can be of help to my team-mates and be equally aggressive, I'll be more than pleased," the likeable rider told El Pedal de Frodo.

Pérez will once again start the season Down Under, and will aim to be in strong form for the following early-season races. With number one sprinter Koldo Fernández off to Garmin-Cervélo, Pérez is likely to be given more of a chance to ride for his own chances in the sprint finishes.

"Yeah, I've worked a lot for Koldo these last few years. Perhaps this year I'll be able to go for the wins myself, and hopefully I can pull it off. I'm not completely sure yet, but I'm pretty confident I'll get my chances in some races."

His biggest hope for the year ahead though is - unexpectedly - that the team's sponsors come up with enough money to keep the outfit rolling for another few years.

"I trust the team and the sponsors, but I naturally hope for a bigger budget. It's our biggest hope that the team stays on and that in 2013 we're still a part of the WorldTour. And of course that our names are on the list of riders. I love it here, and I hope the team will be around for years to come".

Landa on the mend

Euskaltel's website today reports that Mikel Landa's surgery on his broken collarbone yesterday was successful. The Vuelta a Burgos stage-winner has already headed home after being discharged from the Clínica San Sebastián in Bilbao (yeah, that name is confusing) in the early hours of this morning. The 21-year-old, who's broken the same clavícula a record (surely?) three times this year, will have to take it easy for a week or so before resuming training.

Naturgas Energía anno 2012

La Fundación Euskadi's sub-23 team Naturgas Energía today revealed their roster for 2012. The red team will count on 13 riders next year; three less than was the case this season.

Interestingly, only six of this year's batch will stay on: Jon Larrinaga, Loic Chetout, Karl Baudron, Alain González, Eduardo Ardaiz and Damien García. The latter five only teamed up ahead of this year, while Larrinaga will get another year to show his worth after displaying impressive form throughout the recently-concluded season.

As Barbero and Marino have joined Orbea, that means the following eight riders will be let go: Álex Bilbao, Urtzi Legarra, Aitor Ocampos (who's retired), Rory Martínez, Efrén Carazo, Mikel Martioda, Alberto Guinea and Fernando Grijalba (who's signed for Caja Rural). Seven new riders have come on board: 18-year-old Alain Santamaría (who interestingly hails from Santa Domingo in Rioja), 19-year-old Mikel Iturria (Belca-Oriako; took out the Vuelta a Pamplona for juniors last summer), Vitoria-native Imanol Estevez (Team Alimco), 18-year-old Pablo Comins (Ibaigane Opel), Victor Etxebarria (Ibarrola-Pipaón), Francisco Javier Martín (Electro Alavesa) and 18-year-old Oier Sánchez.

It was revealed five weeks ago that DS Aritz Arberas would take on a similar role at Orbea in 2012. Iñigo Urretxua is likely to take on a bigger role in his place. On Saturday, all 13 riders will get together for a low-intensity group ride to get preparations for next season underway, reports www.fundacioneuskadi.com.

Young duo on favourite rides and riders

Two of Euskaltel's most promising riders of the last 10 years sat down with BiciCiclismo at the team's recent training camp in Derio to talk favourite riders and favourite races. Here's what featherweight climbing duo Mikel Landa and Peio Bilbao had to say:

"I've always admired Samuel", Landa said. "He's always been very professional and methodical in the way he handles himself. I've gotten the chance to get to know him, and he really is like that, so I've learned a lot from him. There are also other runners I've become acquainted with and been impressed by, like Astarloza, Rubén Pérez and Koldo Fernández. Riders like that mean a lot to us young ones."

"I've never had one, big hero", Bilbao admitted. "I've always been a fan of the team and all its riders. Now that I'm here, the guys who've been most helpful and perhaps stand out as leaders the most, would have to be Iñaki Isasi and Mikel Astarloza. Simply because of the calmness they spread; it's not that they give you a lot of concrete advice, it's more that they know how to handle a rider like me, young and somewhat lost in all this."

Naturally, most riders dream of the biggest race out there at a young age: the Tour de France. For the 21 - and 22-year-old, that's not the case.

"I've always looked to the Basque Country and the Euskal Bizikleta in particular. The latter race was still on-going when I was young, and it used to have a stage finish at the Santuario de Oro every other year", Landa explained. "As I lived nearby, that's a race I always loved. And the Subida a Urkiola as well, which I was fortunate enough to race when with Orbea. I would love to fight it out for the win at the Urkiola if the race gets back on the calendar sometime. These races, along with the Vuelta al País Vasco, have been my dream since I was a kid."

Peio Bilbao's answer was perhaps more intriguing, revealing a fascination for the cobbled classics.

"I've always been a fan of the Grand Tours, but I'm especially fond of the one-day races. I would love to ride the cobbled classics sometime, even though I'm hardly cut out for it. Perhaps the Ardennes Classics are better suited to me. Anyway, the Classics are cycling at its biggest and where I'd like to excel in the future. Of the GTs, the Giro d'Italia has always been attractive to me. The Tour is of course the bigger race, but the passion of the Italian tifosi makes the Giro more enjoyable".

Landa hardly disagreed with his team-mate, saying "the Giro would be my favourite too - it's spectacular. I'd love to ride a three-week race next year, but it depends on the team. They're bringing a clear leader and a strong team of riders to back that leader up to the Giro, the Tour and the Vuelta, so I don't know if they have place for a guy like me. But it would be an important step in my progression!".