De la Parte offered new pro deal

Basque SP Tableware pro Víctor de la Parte has been offered a new deal by the Greek team, El Correo reports.

The 26-year-old from Vitoria returned to the professional ranks in June, having ridden as an amateur for the first part of the season after leaving Caja Rural. De la Parte has enjoyed instant success with Ioannis Tamouridis now-former team, taking out a stage in the Romanian Cycling Tour en route to second overall, as well as a stage and the overall of the Sibiu Cycling Tour this year. In addition, he posted a strong fifth at the recent Tour of Hainan, as well as claiming seventh in the Spanish national championships.

Speaking to the Bilbao-based daily, he said he'd received an offer from the team management to stay on with the outfit, but that he wanted to "take a few days to explore other possible offers".

While his first year at Tableware has been a success, the end to the season wasn't the one he wanted. He crashed on then opening stage of the Tour of Taihu Lake, breaking his scaphoid in his right hand. The injury is not thought to compromise his 2013 preparations markedly, but does rule him out of the cyclo-cross race in Arbulo this weekend he'd intended to take part in.

Photo: El Pedal de Frodo

González jumps ships

Standout Basque amateur rider Aitor González will make the switch to Lizarte for the upcoming season.

The native of Ermua, the hometown of Aitor Galdós and Igor Astarloa to name but two distinguished pros, showed considerable promise throughout 2012, leading the Torneo Lehendakari for much of the year before losing it to Naturgas' Imanol Estévez in the last race in Oñati. The current Euskadi sub-23 road race champion will leave his home of four years, Debabarrena, to team up with the guys in pink over at Lizarte, a press release reads.

22-year-old González is the eighth new arrival announced by the team, the others being Miguel Ángel Aguilera, Mikel Azcoiti, Mikel Ezkieta, Julián Gómez, Imanol Lafuente, Raul Martínez de Morentin and Luis Pascual.

Photo: El Diario Vasco

Velasco - I'll have freedom at Caja Rural

While the non-renewals of Iván Velasco and Amets Txurruka were met with universal disapproval by Euskaltel aficionados, the experienced duo wasted little time in finding a new home at Caja Rural. The two climbers are likely to have considerably freer reins at the Pro Continental outfit than at their WorldTour counterparts, and Velasco is relishing the opportunity.

"I'm very pleased to be signing for this team", a press release, released after the rider's presentation to the media today, reads. "From the first time I spoke to them they showed 100 percent faith in me, and I'd like to repay them for that. I'm so pleased, and I know I'll have opportunities to ride for myself, I'll have freedom. I think I have what it takes to do well, and I'd like to show that. Hopefully I can pay them back with a win, I'd like that."

The green team has profited massively from the UCI's much-debated points system this winter, picking up the Euskaltel duo and Movistar's veteran escalador David Arroyo as their previous teams prioritized points over quality in their recruitment for the 2013 season. Add in additional new signings Omar Fraile and Fran Moreno, and it's clear they have quite a solid roster for the upcoming campaign.

"I think we have a good team: a team with quality, a team with speedy riders, riders who can climb... We'll do well. We've got a very balanced team. Last year they did very well, but I believe we're stronger now. Us veterans will carry the weight of the team, try to come up with results and teach the younger riders."

The 32-year-old Mondragón-native went on to say he "had some other offers", but that Caja Rural "showed they wanted to count on me", so "here I am, very happy".

Velasco's 2013 racing schedule naturally depends on the eventual invitations the team will receive to the bigger races, but he's expected to be one of the team's protected riders in the Vuelta a España if the team receives, as is anticipated, a wild-card.

Photo: Caja Rural

Naturgas Energía conclude 2013 recruitment

Naturgas Energía have completed their off-season business by announcing the signings of Álvaro Trueba (left) and Eder Saenz de Ocariz.

The signings of Bernat Font and Noel Gil (Castillo Onda), Óscar González de Campo (Fedavin), Aitor Morales (Zirauna) and Alberto Luis Barrón (Asfaltos Olarra) have been announced earlier, and the two new signings take the number of new recruits to seven.

Trueba signs on from Azysa, and will embark on his second year in the category. The Cantabrian has enjoyed a relatively strong 2012 season, a season in which he, among other strong performances, grabbed eighth in the Spanish sub-23 time trial champs.

Eder Saenz will debut in the sub-23 ranks, and joins from Arabarrak. The youngster has a number of good results to his name, among them second in the Trofeo Fundación in Sodupe (relegating soon-to-be team-mate Noel Gil to third).

Eleven riders from this year's roster will stay on, and those are:

• Eduardo Ardaiz
• Karl Baudron
• Loïc Chetout
• Pablo Comins
• Imanol Estévez
• Víctor Etxeberria
• Alain González
• Mikel Iturria
• Francisco Javier Martín
• Oier Sánchez
• Alain Santamaría   

This means next year's squad will total 18 riders next season - five more than this year. The two to leave the red and whites are Jon Larrinaga (who'll get his chance among the pros at Orbea) and Frenchman Damien García, who's not mentioned in the team's communiqué.

"The roster for 2013 is now closed", Fundación Euskadi president Miguel Madariaga stated in the press release. "We're embarking on a new season and a new project, in which Naturgas Energía will be the point of reference. The most important thing in the Fundación's new project is the formation of the riders. Therefore, with this roster we can prepare the roster based on each one's individual needs and those of Basque cycling in general".

It's interesting that he mentions "the needs of Basque cycling", seeing as four of the riders signed for 2013 are non-Basques. Neither Gil, Font, González nor Trueba hail from the Euskal Herria, but will now hope to follow in the steps of Samuel Sánchez, Víctor Cabedo, Iñigo Cuesta, Ángel Castresana et al. (not to mention the host of new foreign signings at Euskaltel) in donning the orange jersey despite being born in other parts of the Iberian Peninsula.

Photo: www.losfondistas.blogspot.com

Injured Larrinaga out for weekend races

Cyclo-cross rider Javier Ruíz de Larrinaga, dominant on the domestic scene so far, has been ruled out of the upcoming races this weekend due to the knee injury sustained in Muskiz last Sunday, but it's not expected to keep him out of play for long.

The Amezaga-born MMR-Spiuk rider was forced to abandon the Superprestigio event in Muskiz the past weekend when riding strongly in third position, injuring his left knee on the penultimate round. While he's set for a more extensive check-up on Thursday morning, a visit to the USP Mediplan Sport in Vitoria yesterday revealed no serious damage. No broken bones or damaged ligaments were discovered, though an annoying meniscus is likely to result in a DNS in Arbulo on Saturday and in the Superprestigio-ranked race in Elorrio on Sunday.

"Likely, unless we get positively surprised, the races in Arbulo and Elorria are discarded - and with them the overall Superprestigio ranking",  he said on his website. "Fortunately, though, this has happened in November, which after all is better than December or January".

Photo: Noticias de Álava

Chaoufi - "It is an honor for me to get to this team"

Moroccan Tarik Chaoufi is perhaps the most unknown and untested rider among the new foreign signings by Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano's new Euskaltel squad but he has big plans for next season. The 26 year-old rider knew that his level was rising in 2012, during which he was able to score 6 wins including one against Europcar stars Tommy Voeckler and Anthony Charteau, but gaining a World Tour contract was something that was only in his dreams until Euskaltel came calling. Chaoufi is apart of a growing Moroccan cycling culture that is taking Africa by storm and setting their sights upon Europe.

"I am a rider that handles the mountains well", Chaoufi told BiciCiclismo. "I'm a rider that who has a good top speed", he said when describing himself as a rider, going on to say that while he isn't a rider for a bunch sprint, he likes "to sprint when the race is tough, people are tired and the group is small." Chaoufi is admittedly a rider who likes to attack, where he has been able to gain a majority of his wins, which should gain him acceptance with many Euskaltel fans who love to see the men in orange out in front.

The majority of Chaoufi's experience comes from the UCI Africa Tour, where he was the 2011-12 overall champion, with a small amount of European experience that was mostly gained this season. Despite this, Chaoufi has respect for the ethos of Euskaltel and what he will have to do to prepare for next season. "It is an honor for me to get to this team", he said promising to work hard for the Basque fans. Chaoufi is the first Moroccan to line up professionally and goes on to say that he wants his success to serve as motivation for other Moroccan riders coming up. While Chaoufi is being used by Euskaltel as a stopgap to maintain their World Tour status, he intends to ride in the orange uniform with pride.

Tamouridis - We'll strive to justify ourselves

Greek Ioannis Tamouridis will aim to do well what Euskaltel never have been able to next year: time trial in the world elite. The multiple national champion on the road and the track clocked up a healthy enough chunk of UCI points the last two years to attract Euskaltel's attention once it became clear a change of philosophy was needed, and the 32-year-old will become the first Greek ever to represent an international elite cycling team when he dons the iconic orange jersey in 2013. Despite only having ridden for lower-level teams up until now, he's adamant he'll prove his worth among the big boys.

"I hope I'm ready, and I'll work hard to make this step up a success", he told BiciCiclismo. "I'm very motivated to start riding. I know the races I've done so far have been domestic ones, but I'm mature enough to face this challenge with all my strength. It'll be my first year in the WorldTour, but I'm not young enough to say it'll be my first experience. I have to adapt quickly as I want to perform early on - I want to repay the team for the faith they've put in me with good results. I know I'm one of the strongest time triallists on the team, and for that I'll be very useful.

"It's a great honour to be able to ride in the WorldTour and for Euskaltel. I think it's one of the biggest and most historical teams in the WorldTour with its more than 19 years of existence. Not many teams have lasted that long at this level, and it just goes to show how serious and professional the team is. I know that up until last season it only consisted of Basques, but that they opened the doors to foreigners this year, like me, because of a lack of points. I'm confident all us foreigners will give all we've got to justify our signings, and I hope Euskaltel will be satisfied at the end of the season".

The Thessaloniki-born rider defines himself as one who "loves the cronos, but suffers on the long climbs", and therefore says he hopes to get the nod for "the not too difficult one-day races", adding that he dreams of riding the Northern Classics. He'll forego the track altogether next year in an effort to devote all his energy to the road and Euskaltel, a team he said he was guided to by two now-former Spanish team-mates at his local team.

"Joaquín Sobrino and Víctor de la Parte (at team SP Tableware) told me great things about the team and said the only difficulty I might run into might be the weather and, certainly, the language! Back home, though, everyone started looking up the history and results of Euskaltel once it was announced I had signed. That made a great impression on me. I'm the first from my country to ride for a WorldTour team, and that's great news not only for cycling, but for all sport. It was everywhere in the media with the title "Tamouridis turns Basque". I'd love to read that title in a Basque newspaper this year!"

Photo: www.ioannistamouridis.com

"Hopefully we won't need foreigners in the future"

Veteran directeur sportif Gorka Gerrikagoitia has, perhaps unintentionally, given a damning verdict of Euskaltel's change of philosophy. Speaking to sports daily Marca, the former rider expressed the hope they won't be "forced" to sign non-Basques in the years to come.

"The team was forced to sign foreigners to stay at the top level, and we succeeded", he said. "I don't see a different team. There'll be people who are both for and against (signing non-Basques), but it was something we had to do. Hopefully we won't need to sign foreigners in the future as they give us, through their hard work, a spot in the WorldTour."

Whether Kocjan, Schulze, Vrecer et al. will be motivated by these sorts of comments remain to be seen, but it does support the theory that Euskaltel will aim to return to it's Basque-only philosophy some time in the future. Speaking of this year's team, though, 'Gerri' was only half-pleased with the team's performance throughout the year - but reserved praise for one rider in particular.

"It's difficult to evaluate the year as we did some good things and some bad things. Overall, though, the performances have been good. Samuel's Vuelta al País Vasco triumph will stay with me - that was a highlight and something we've longed for for many years. In the WorldTour we did a good season: we were second in Catalunya, won País Vasco, tenth in the Giro, ninth in the Vuelta... but, in the end, what counts is the Tour, and things didn't go to plan there. We had bad luck, but I believe we performed well despite not getting the results. Whether you say we did well or badly depends on your viewpoint. I'll give the team a six out of ten.

"The greatest joy of the year was Jon Izagirre with a stage victory in his first Grand Tour and the great performance he pulled off. The regret is that we weren't able to accumulate all the points we wanted to. At the start of the year I speak with riders who can get many, and we end up not obtaining them. I haven't been able to get the most out of each and every one of my riders".

As for one of the main deceptions of the year, Igor Antón, Gerrikagoitia believes he's still got "much ahead of him, despite his bad luck". While he admitted Antón "was one of those who got less points than we had wanted to", he was "sure" Antón would "return to his top shape in the coming seasons".

Photo: www.orbea.com

Kocjan - It's the biggest opportunity of my life

Despite having posted impressive results for several years in Europe, it's taken a few years for Slovenian Jure Kocjan to get his chance at the very top level of international cycling. Now that Euskaltel have offered him that opportunity in 2013, no wonder he's aiming to grab it with both hands. Speaking to BiciCiclismo, the recently-turned 28-year-old says he's finally ready to make a leap of quality.

"This is the greatest opportunity in my life", he said. "I've had other options - at the end of the 2011 season, for example, I had the opportunity to join WorldTour teams. But I felt very good at Team Type 1 and wanted to stay a year longer with them. But with a view to next season, it was time to take a step forward and be part of Euskaltel. I think it's a team in which I can develop my talent, especially in the races that I like: the Classics and races that end in a sprint.

"My main objective is to improve, to progress. 2011 was a really good year. I was alongside the best in the world, but I wasn't able to finish it off in the sprints. 2012 started off really badly for me because of falls and injuries. But when I got my fitness back on track, I managed to be in a position of disputing races. And physically I felt better than ever. The objective for 2013 can't be anything else than continuing to grow".

Winner of the 2010 edition of the GP Pino Cerami, fourth in last year's Strade Bianche and fifth in that same year's TD Bank Philadelphia are results of a classics rider. Yet the large majority of his wins have come in bunch-sprint finishes. So what type of rider is he?

"I'm best in the classics", he argued. "I don't have any problems getting over the smaller climbs. Obviously I won't be among the best on long ones, but on smaller ones I have no trouble holding on. But I'm a sprinter as well. Perhaps I lack the speed to win in a completely flat finish, but if it's a slightly uphill sprint I can fight for the victory. That's my favourite terrain".

Asked about his new team, Kocjan was quick to label it as "one of the best teams in the world", and added that "few teams have as much tradition and history" as the guys in orange. Asked if he knew of Euskaltel's philosophy, a quick "of course" followed.

"Euskaltel is a team that always has been based on Basque cyclists or riders trained in Euskadi. In 2013 we'll start a new stage in the history of Euskaltel. And those of us who are coming from the outside are obliged to perform at the highest level and help the team in races like the classics - races where Euskaltel haven't had the same high-calibre riders as they've had for the big stage races".

His race calendar wasn't discussed, but it's widely known that he'll focus on one-day races and shorter stage-races outside of Spain, and in Northern Europe in particular.

Photo: www.sport.be.msn.com

Murgoitio resumes order

After being upstaged by an imperious Aitor Hernández in yesterday's first Superprestigio race of the weekend in Llodio, Egoitz Murgoitio showed everyone he's still the king by cantering to the win in the second race in the race series in Muskiz on Sunday.

The sizeable contingent on the start line was no match for the 29-year-old Abadiño-born powerhouse as he soloed his way to a comfortable victory, 36 seconds ahead of nearest chaser Isaac Suárez. Javier Ruís de Larrinaga was going strong and looked set for a podium spot until he crashed out with only two laps to go. According to the Basque Cycling Federation, Larrinaga, third yesterday, hurt his knee. That paved the way for Aitor Hernández to claim yet another podium spot, his ninth of the year, ahead of Erlantz Uriarte and Mauro González.

Murgoitio's Hirumet-Taldea team-mate Jonathan Lastra continued his upward trajectory by taking a strong sixth and the sub-23 classification with it. Lastra just about beat Iñigo Gómez to the line, meaning the Bio Racer - Caravanas Erandio rider had to settle for second in his age group. Third was Ismael Félix Barba, second yesterday.

Roció Gamonal took back-to-back wins by besting Lucía González, while Alicia González did the same by winning the juniors' race. Eneko Corrales ousted Alex Aranburu and Felipe Orts to take the men's junior classification.

Results, V Trofeo Ayuntamiento de Muskiz:

1. Egoitz Murgoitio (Hirumet - Taldea) 1:00:51
2. Isaac Suárez (Bio Racer - Caravanas Erandio), 0:36
3. Aitor Hernández (Ermua - Orbea), 0:44
4. Erlantz Uriarte (Opel Ibaigane), 1:20
5. Mauro González (TB Transportes), 1:23
6. Jonathan Lastra (Hirumet - Taldea), 1:26
7. Iñigo Gómez (Bio Racer - Caravanas Erandio), s.t.
8. José Antonio Díez Arriola (Bikezona.com), s.t.
9. Jospe Betalú (GSport - Valencia Terra i Mar), 1:47
10. Asier Arregi (Bizikleta.com), 1:48

Photo: www.egoitzmurgoitio.blogspot.com

Serebryakov keeps 'em coming

Alexandre Serebryakov took his season tally to ten wins on Saturday as he sprinted to the win on day three of the Tour of Taihu Lake.

The future Euskaltel rider bested Alois Kankovsky, who'd taken out the first pair of stages, and La Pomme-Marseille rider Benjamin Giraud at the end of a 115km trek. The Russian thus claimed his eighth triumph in Asia this year, with four others coming at the Tour of China (pictured above) and a trio coming in Hainan. Considering his red-hot form and the distinctly low-quality field present, it was actually a surprise to not see him taking his first stage sooner - but with five stages to go he'll have plenty of chances to make up for earlier misses.

Speaking after Friday's stage two, he said he was "terrified" by some of the tactics employed by rival teams in the closing hundred metres. While today was no different, a strong team helped him pull it off.

"My team-mates closed the gap to the escapees to perfection. They gave it their all", he told Cyclingnews. "I was scared at the end, though, as guys like Yuri Metlushenko was coming up on both sides. With the tail wind, it was a very fast sprint. Fortunately, it wasn't as crazy as yesterday, when a Madison-like relay was given. I spoke to some of the guys this morning and said "ok, you're track riders, but this is road racing. We try to win every day, and there will be more occasions as the remaining five stages might also end in bunch finishes".

Photo: www.championsystem.com

Aitor Hernández beats the unbeatable

Aitor Hernández pulled off one of the rides of his short cyclo-cross life by beating Spain's finest rider, Egoitz Murgoitio, en route to the win in Saturday's Superprestigio round in Llodio.

The three pre-race favourites, the aforementioned duo and the on-fire Javier Ruíz de Larrinaga, imposed their superiority and distanced the rest early on. As rain hit the circuit with some force mid-way through, though, Murgoitio, who'd done most of the work up until that point, soon found himself on the back foot as the former Euskaltel rider took advantage of the ever-muddier course. Hernández distanced the Hirumet-Taldea rider and Larrinaga on the penultimate round, according to BiciCiclismo, and held on by 13 seconds to cement his position at the top of the overall Superprestigio rankings. Saturday's win marks Hernández's third of the campaign.

Larrinaga took the last spot on the podium only five seconds behind Murgoitio, while Isaac Suárez was best of the rest in fourth, more than a minute and a half in arrears. Aketza Peña, another former Euskaltel man of course, was on one of his best days so far this season, claiming fifth.

The highly-promising Jonathan Lastra, who's debuted on the international circuit this season, took an impressive sixth, and thus won the sub-23 classification. En Bici-Stevens' Ismael Félix Barba took second in that particular competition by placing eighth.

Results, Llodio (for full results click here):

1. Aitor Hernández (Ermua-Orbea), 1:01:26
2. Egoitz Murgoitio (Hirumet-Taldea), 0:13
3. Javier Ruíz de Larrinaga (MMR-Spiuk), 0:18
4. Isaac Suárez (Bio Racer - Caravanas Erandio), 1:35
5. Aketza Peña (Zallako Belodromo), 1:55
6. Jonathan Lastra (Hirumet-Taldea), 2:36 - Winner sub-23
7. Erlantz Uriarte (Opel Ibaigane), 2:48
8. Ismael Félix Barba (En Bici - Stevens), 3:15
9. Asier Arregi (Bizikleta.com), 3:20
10. José Antonio Díez Arriola (Bikezona.com), 4:11

Orbea Centeno's Roció Gamonal racked up yet another win among the women, while Alicia González grabbed the juniors' race. Among the junior men, Diego Pablo Sevilla bested Alvaro Carral and Alex Aranburu. 

Photo: Iñaki Azanza

Blázquez waves goodbye to cycling

Leaving behind something you've lived for is never easy - especially when you leave feeling you haven't been able to fully express yourself. That's the case of the once-promising Orbea rider Andoni Blázquez, who's decided to put an end to his cycling career after four injury-plagued years with Euskaltel's feeder team.

The 25-year-old kindly took time to sit down with Basque Cycling News to reflect on his years as a professional bike rider, and how it feels to put the bike away for good.

Question: How does it feel to leave cycling? It's always been a big part of your life.

Answer: For me, cycling has been everything these last few years. More than just a sport: a way of living, a day-to-day job. A cyclist needs to be a cyclist 24 hours a day. Not only when you're on the bike, but also when it comes to rest, what to eat, taking decisions with a view to improving every day. With time, I think I've learned to lead a life like that.

Q: What's the hardest to leave: the bike itself, your friends, the races...?

A: The routine. Getting up in the morning and seeing that you don't have to train, that you have to find another way to live your life... The friends will always be there - I'd take 99 percent of the people I've met in this business to a deserted island. The truth is I've met brilliant people. The races themselves aren't that important, they're just a part of your office.

Q: What will you do now? Go back to school?

A: Now is a time to reflect and decide what direction I want to take in my life. I want to return to work in order to feel useful again, and to start another professional career.

Q: Generally speaking, are you content with your career? Or do you leave the sport feeling bitter?

A: I leave with the feeling of not having been able to show all that I'm capable of. The injuries have restricted me - two and a half years on the sidelines is a long time.

Q: What was it like being on the sidelines for so long?

A: It was really bad on a personal level. Time passes, you're not getting better, races go by, and you're just stuck in your home, and all you want to do is to train. I was on crutches for a month and I'm still feeling bad. I didn't have a very grave injury, and perhaps that's the reason we didn't pay enough attention to it. In the world of elite sports, you're either at a 100 percent or you're out.


Blázquez, to the left, celebrating winning the climber's jersey in May's Tour de Gironde - one of few highlights the last years.

Q: How has the team supported you during these difficult times?

A: The team gave me all their support and never turned their back on me. The best specialist were put at my disposal, and the personal support I've received has been incredible. I've had my downs, but the team have always motivated me, refused me to throw in the towel and encouraged me to always look ahead.

Q: In general, how has life at Orbea been? 

A: When I joined the team, I thought it was huge. But when I got to know it from the inside, I realized it was a humble team and the tools at our disposal have been incredible. In short, I'd say it's a very humane team with a family feel to it.

Q: What's your proudest moment on the bike?

A: The moments when you've crossed the line, having worked for a team-mate and he goes on to thank you for helping him win, will stay with me. Especially in the case of Romain Sicard.

Q: Who's been the most important person to you during your career?

A: My point of reference has been Mikel Astarloza - I've always tried to follow his example. Along with my training group, we've always trained together, and we've learnt a lot from him.

Q: Will you stay in contact with the world of cycling in the years to come?

A: I would like to do that, yes. I think I can bring experience to the field, and in the near future I can see myself working in this business. I think the world of cycling is the world I know the best.

Q: Finally, what do you make of Euskaltel's change of philosophy?

A: I'm very sad to see it, but this is a decision made necessary by the UCI and their much-discussed points system. Euskaltel was much more than a team: it was a group of friends, a family working for each other, and this was seen in the peloton. Let's home this 'romanticism' remains in the new project.

"I have to earn the fans' affection"

Alexandre Serebryakov knows it won't be easy. As the first ever Russian at Euskaltel, not to mention one of the first foreign signings made by the team ever, he'll enter completely uncharted territory next season. He's signed a one-year deal, but hopes to prolong that stay further, and aims to do so by convincing right from the off - both on and off the bike.

"Of course I know of Euskaltel's philosophy, and it's my duty to respect it", he told Cobbles & Hills. "It'll be important to integrate as quickly as possible, and I also believe it's our obligation to try to win as many races as possible for the squad. That will be the best way for me to pay them back for trusting me.

"I'm aware, though, that I'll have to earn the affection of the Basque fans and also that of my sport directors. And this is only possible through results and hard and professional work. I want to convince everybody that this first contract with Euskaltel is the first step in a long relationship".

With nine triumphs to his name this calendar year, the 25-year-old is the most-winning neo-pro of 2012. None of those wins have come in Europe, though, as his previous team Team Type 1 has mainly sent him to Asian and North-American races. As such, it's no surprise to learn what his main goal in 2013 will be.

"My big challenge is to get my first win in Europe", he said. "I don't feel any external pressure to get results, though, as I'm always the first one to ask for more of myself. As a neo-pro, it's not very easy to get results in Europe - you lack the experience, the ability to position yourself, the knowledge of the races... This first year of experience and competition with professionals will do me good with a view to adapting quickly to the European calendar in 2013, though. I never imagined I would be able to raise my arms in celebration so often - I have to admit I'm surprised. I'm convinced that with hard work and good planning I'll repeat the successes I achieved in Asia and in America in Europe next year."

While Serebryakov didn't elaborate on his racing schedule, he did say he'll "start the season a bit later than the rest", seeing as he'll continue to compete up until mid-November. He'll today, Thursday, embark on the eight-day Tour of Taihu Lake in China - giving him plenty of chances to add even more victories to his rapidly-growing palmarès.

Photo: www.philly.com