Naturgas: Etxeberria 4th/line-up for Sunday

Naturgas Energía placed three riders inside the top 10 of today's Torneo Lehendakari-race in Lizartza. There was no beating Johan Van Zyl of Caja Rural who won solo, but new Naturgas rider Victor Etxeberria grabbed a mightily impressive fourth place, just 45 seconds back. Loic Chetout continued his strong start to the season with sixth, while Jon Larrinaga was ninth and Imanol Estevez 11th. Today's 104km race was the third of the year in the Torneo Lehendakari series.

Lizartza results:

• (1, Johan Van Zyl, Caja Rural)
• 4, Victor Etxeberria, 0:45
• 6, Loic Chetout, 1:02
• 9, Jon Larrinaga, 1:05
• 11, Imanol Estevez, 1:22
• 14, Alain González, s.t.
• 21, Karl Baudron, s.t.
• 24, Francisco Javier Martín, s.t.
• 25, Pablo Comins, s.t.
• 43, Damien García, s.t.
• 52, Mikel Iturria, 1:33
• 88, Oier Sánchez, 6:36

The red team finished third in the team rankings behind Caja Rural and Lizarte.

On Sunday, a select seven will take part in a Copa de España-race in Ariztondo. According to www.fundacioneuskadi.com, the following riders will line up: Karl Baudron, Loic Chetout, Victor Etxeberria, Damien García, Alain González, Mikel Iturria and Jon Larrinaga.

Logo wrestling to jeopardize future?

Incredible as it may sound, the use of the word 'Euskadi' on Euskaltel's shirts and shorts may lead to the team losing 400 000 euros in sponsorship money.

El Diario Vasco reports that the Basque government's Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism is threatening to pull the plug on their sponsorship agreement effective immediately if the green 'Euskadi'-logo isn't substituted with the government's own white one. The green-lettered one, which has decorated the team's outfit ever since its inception, is la Fundación Euskadi's own, and differs slightly from the one the government uses to promote tourism.

Allegedly, the ministry requested in January that the logo be changed by April in time for the Vuelta al País Vasco. If not, the contract "would be terminated without the right of compensation". Miguel Madariaga responded by saying that the request was put forward too late.

"It's not that we can't do it, it's just that they asked us to do this in January", Madariaga is quoted as saying. "By then, everything had been manufactured, and thus we couldn't change it. Changing it now would require a substantial investment as we'd have to repaint 15 vehicles, including cars, buses, vans and trucks. If the government is willing to pay for it, we'll do it. It'll be between 90 000 and a 100 ooo euros."

Changing the logo to white isn't the only request the government has put forward though. The word 'Espagne' will have to be added to the 'Pays Basque'-logo on the back on the jerseys when the team races in France, and similarly 'Paese Baschi Spagna' when competing in Italy and 'Baskenland Spanien' in Germany. In all other countries, the logo should read 'Basque Country Spain' according to the government.

Madariaga and Euskaltel will meet up with the ministry on March 22 to discuss the matter.

Tirreno stage 3 & Paris-Nice stage 6

Tirreno-Adriatico, stage 3, 178 kilometres Indicatore-Terni:

• (1, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Sky)
• 58, Rubén Pérez, 0:03
• 98, Jon Izagirre, s.t.
• 109, Egoi Martínez, s.t.
• 112, Juan José Oroz, s.t.
• 116, Pablo Urtasun, s.t.
• 120, Gorka Verdugo, s.t.
• 139, Mikel Landa, s.t.
• 141, Amets Txurruka, s.t.

GC: places 119 through 125, all at 1:28. Except for Mikel Landa, who's 138th at 2:49.

Paris-Nice, stage 6, 176,5 kilometres Suze-la-Rousse-Sisteron:

• (1, Luis León Sánchez, Rabobank)
• 12, Gorka Izagirre, 0:14
• 23, Romain Sicard, s.t.
• 39, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 51, Mikel Astarloza, s.t.
• 109, Ricardo García, 4:57
• 137, Adrián Sáez, 8:21
• 149, Peio Bilbao, 18:18
• 150, Pierre Cazaux, s.t.

GC:

• (1, Bradley Wiggins, Sky)
• 41, Romain Sicard, 7:46
• 43, Mikel Astarloza, 8:29
• 52, Igor Antón, 12:46
• 67, Gorka Izagirre, 16:21
• 126, Ricardo García, 41:13
• 134, Pierre Cazaux, 49:49
• 149, Adrián Sáez, 56:19
• 153, Peio Bilbao, 1:01:22

Tirreno stage 2 and Paris-Nice stage 5 results

Euskaltel came through a mass pile-up inside the last two kilometres of today's first stage proper of the Tirreno-Adriatico unscathed, with Rubén Pérez also securing the team a top finish with 10th in the sprint. Pérez thus grabbed his best placing of the young season. Everyone else on the team finished inside the peloton on a rather calm 230km day from San Vincenzo to Indicatore.

In Paris-Nice, the team is still searching for a result to 'save' their first European WorldTour event of 2012. Antón was never really in contention on today's fifth stage to Mende and finished 53 seconds down in 25th place, while Astarloza is still struggling after his crash earlier in the week. The Pasajes native came in 5:10 down in a lowly 81st. Sicard's form looks to be on the up though with a decent 53rd place, 2:06 in arrears. The Frenchman is the team's top rider on GC in 44th.

Stage results:

• (1, Lieuwe Westra, Vacansoleil)
• 25, Igor Antón, 0:53
• 53, Romain Sicard, 2:06
• 64, Gorka Izagirre, 2:52
• 81, Mikel Astarloza, 5:10
• 103, Pierre Cazaux, 7:40
• 115, Adrián Sáez, 16:59
• 121, Ricardo García, s.t.
• 153, Peio Bilbao, 20:17

Sicard is ranked fifth in the young riders competition - Gorka Izagirre is eigtht.

Tirreno opener and Paris-Nice stage 4 round-up

Euskaltel got their Tirreno-Adriatico campaign off to a lousy start in today's opening team time trial. The eight riders finished 21st out of 22 participating teams, a full 1:25 down on runaway winners GreenEdge. Only Colombian upstarts Colombia-Coldeportes ceded more time over the 16,9km course between San Vincenzo and Donoratico.

The riders representing Euskaltel in Italy are: Jon Izagirre, Mikel Landa, Egoi Martínez, Juan José Oroz, Rubén Pérez, Amets Txurruka, Pablo Urtasun and Gorka Verdugo.

The team finally got their orange jerseys on the TV screen in the Paris-Nice today. On the hilly fourth stage from Brive-la-Gaillarde and Rodez, Gorka Izagirre showed his attacking instincts by figuring in a dangerous-looking late-race move. The Ormaiztegi native didn't get a big gap though and was rather quickly reeled back in.

Resurgent Belgian Gianni Meersman sprinted to the win from a 57-man strong first group, a group including strong duo Igor Antón and Mikel Astarloza.

Stage results:

• (1, Gianni Meersman, Lotto-Belisol)
• 44, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 57, Mikel Astarloza, s.t.
• 62, Romain Sicard, 0:54
• 84, Gorka Izagirre, 1:32
• 118, Peio Bilbao, 9:56
• 119, Pierre Cazaux, s.t.
• 154, Adrián Sáez, 13:21
• 155, Ricardo García, s.t.

Paris-Nice stage 3

Paris-Nice's third stage from Vierzon to Le Lac de Viesseviére earlier today was another uninspiring one from an orange point of view.

The team missed out on the break of the day and thus any chance of animating the race in a meaningful way. To make matters worse, Astarloza, Bilbao and Cazaux hit the deck some 50 kilometres from the line. According to the team's website though, they all escaped serious injury.

There was no beating Valverde on the short but steep incline to the line, the Movistar rider pipping a resurgent Simon Gerrans on the line. There was no Antón, Izagirre or Astarloza to see near the front, and the list of results show the former was the only one even remotely close. Antón crossed the line in a distant 55th place, but was somehow awarded the same time as Valverde, Gerrans and co. The other two weren't quite as lucky though, both being clocked at 12 seconds.

Stage results:

• (1, Alejandro Valverde, Movistar)
• 56, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 63, Mikel Astarloza, 0:12
• 69, Gorka Izagirre, s.t.
• 98, Peio Bilbao, 1:25
• 100, Romain Sicard, s.t.
• 116, Pierre Cazaux, 2:06
• 118, Ricardo García, 2:10
• 161, Adrián Sáez, 6:03

General classification:

• (1, Bradley Wiggins, Sky)
• 39, Mikel Astarloza, 3:21
• 67, Romain Sicard, 4:48
• 81, Ricardo García, 6:12
• 116, Igor Antón, 11:55
• 118, Gorka Izagirre, 11:59
• 138, Peio Bilbao, 13:07
• 147, Pierre Cazaux, 14:11
• 159, Adrián Sáez, 17:54

Young riders classification:

• (1, Tejay Van Garderen, BMC)
• 6, Romain Sicard, 4:37

Teams classification:

• (1, Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
• 17, Euskaltel Euskadi, 9:27

Basque races saved

Spanish banking group Sabadell Guipuzcoano have stepped in to save the Vuelta al País Vasco and the Clásica San Sebastián for the next two years. The Basque bank will provide the organizers of the two events with the 150 000 euros they were lacking, and the races will thus go ahead as planned.

"We're pleased to inform you that Sabadell Guipuzcoano will sponsor the Gran Premio de la Vuelta al País Vasco in 2012", reads an official statement from Jaime Ugarte, president of the organizing committee. "Because of their support, the continuity of the races is assured, and the deal extends to 2013.

"We'll now send the necessary documentation to the teams and inform them of this new and positive situation. We've already talked to the UCI, and the news were met with great happiness".

The Vuelta al País Vasco is slated for April 2-7, while the Clásica will be held on August 14.

Team caught out in Paris-Nice crosswinds

On the look of it, Euskaltel today lost all hope of a top general classification performance in the Paris-Nice. The team went missing when the sidewinds wreaked havoc with the peloton and thus ceded several minutes to various GC candidates.

Neither Igor Antón, Mikel Astarloza, Romain Sicard or anoyone else made the cut when echelons started to form, and a 21-man strong group were left to fight it out for the win. Astarloza, García and Sicard came in with the main peloton some two and a half minutes in arrears, while Antón and co. crossed the line almost 11 minutes back. While the riders will no doubt be disappointed with their lack of vigilance, it leaves the guys free to hunt stage wins from breaks for the remainder of the race if nothing else.

Stage results:

• (1, Tom Boonen, Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
• 46, Mikel Astarloza, 2:29
• 48, Ricardo García, s.t.
• 71, Romain Sicard, s.t.
• 147, Igor Antón, 10:58
• 149, Peio Bilbao, s.t.
• 167, Adrián Sáez, s.t.
• 172, Pierre Cazaux, s.t.
• 174, Gorka Izagirre, s.t.

Team for Tirreno & San Remo

Euskaltel have today released the list of riders set to take part in the Tirreno-Adriatico (7-13 March) and Milano-San Remo (17 of March). The following eight will participate in both WorldTour events:

Jon Izagirre, Mikel Landa, Egoi Martínez, Juan José Oroz, Rubén Pérez, Amets Txurruka,Pablo Urtasun and Gorka Verdugo.

Álvaro González de Galdeano will lead the team in Italy, and will be hoping to lead his riders to some much-needed WorldTour points after a dry spell of it so far this season.

Source: www.fundacioneuskadi.com

GP Induráin to go ahead

The prelude to the Vuelta al País Vasco, the GP Induráin, will go ahead this year after all, www.biciciclismo.com reports.

It was reported last month that the organizers were struggling to come up with the necessary funds to stage the race, but a private sponsor has since stepped in to cover the budget. President of the organizing committee, Ismael Martínez, confirms the budget will remain at approximately 110 000 euros, but that the number of teams to participate will be only eleven.

This year's race will be staged on the 31st of March.

Paris-Nice ITT results

Time trials really aren't Euskaltel's favourite cup of tea. Today's 9,4km ITT in 'The race to the Sun' was a timely reminder of just that.

Top finisher for the team was Mikel Astarloza in a rather discreet 70th place, a full 38 seconds off the pace set by winner Gustav Erik Larsson of Vacansoleil. Astarloza had been aiming for a top ten overall prior to the race, but has now given himself an awful lot to do if he is to reach that target. Young Peio Bilbao did okay to come home in 83rd, while Igor Antón looked everything but at home on his Orbea Ordu as he toiled to a 124th-place finish almost a minute in arrears.

Stage results:

• (1, Gustav Erik Larsson, Vacansoleil)
• 70, Mikel Astarloza, 0:38
• 83, Peio Bilbao, 0:42
• 98, Gorka Izagirre, 0:47
• 112, Adrián Sáez, 0:51
• 113, Romain Sicard, 0:52
• 124, Igor Antón, 0:55
• 150, Ricardo García, 1:05
• 171, Ricardo García, 1:31

Euskaltel off pace in Murcia TT

Today's concluding stage of the Vuelta a Murcia, a 12,3km ITT, was disappointing for Euskaltel all around. Much was expected of Samuel Sánchez, as usual, after his strong ride to fifth yesterday. He couldn't really get going though, and could only muster 23rd, almost half a minute down on winner Serov. As a result he even dropped a place on GC, finishing up sixth overall.

As Euskaltel fielded a team almost exclusively made up of climbers, the rest of the guys ended up relatively far down on the list of results.

Stage results:

• (1, Alexandre Serov, RusVelo)
• 23, Samuel Sánchez, 0:28
• 50, Miguel Mínguez, 0:56
• 69, Jorge Azanza, 1:15
• 83, Mikel Nieve, 1:25
• 86, Amets Txurruka, 1:29
• 100, Iván Velasco, 1:51
• 106, Victor Cabedo, 1:57

Final general classification:

• (1, Nairo Quintana, Movistar)
• 6, Samuel Sánchez, 0:22
• 30, Amets Txurruka, 3:50
• 33, Iván Velasco, 3:58
• 53, Jorge Azanza, 6:26
• 56, Mikel Nieve, 6:36
• 75, Miguel Mínguez, 9:21
• 120, Victor Cabedo, 24:44

Samu 5th in Murcia opener

Euskaltel's work didn't quite pay off in today's first stage of the Vuelta a Murcia. Team captain Samuel Sánchez finished day one in fifth place.

The team spent almost all day doing the dirty work at the head of the peloton with a nine-man group up the road, eventually setting Samu up nicely for a tilt at his and the team's maiden 2012 victory. The Olympic champion wasn't quite up to it though, and Movistar's diminutive Colombian Nairo Quintana escaped with the win ahead of Poels and Tiernan-Locke. Samu gave it a go on the 6km downhill leading to the goal line in Sierra Espuña, but for all his excellence on the descents there was no catching Quintana. Samu came home fifth, 26 second back, to still be in contention for overall honours before tomorrow's concluding time trial.

Full results:

• (1, Nairo Quintana, Movistar)
• 5, Samuel Sánchez, 0:26
• 24, Iván Velasco, 2:39
• 28, Amets Txurruka, 2:53
• 52, Jorge Azanza, 5:43
• 53, Mikel Nieve, s.t.
• 77, Miguel Mínguez, 8:57
• DNF: Victor Cabedo

Larrinaga 4th in Ereño

Jon Larrinaga backed up his fourth place from last weekend's race in Soraluze with another fourth place earlier today in Ereño. The youngster, who's rapidly evolving into a solid climber, secured Naturgas Energía a top result on the taxing 116km course in the Vizcaya region, but could do little about former team-mate Fernando Grijalba. Grijalba was in a league of his own as he claimed his second win in two races in less than a week, crossing the line 37 seconds ahead of nearest challenger Aitor González of Debabarrena. Promising Caja Rural rider Ibai Salas grabbed the last spot on the podium, while Naturgas' French rider Karl Baudron landed a noteworthy sixth.

Full results are not available at the time being, but here's the top ten:

• 1, Fernando Grijalba, Caja Rural
• 2, Aitor González, Debabarrena, 0:37
• 3, Ibai Salas, Caja Rural, 0:45
• 4, Jon Larrinaga, Naturgas Energía, 0:47
• 5, Cristobal Sánchez, Seguros Bilbao, 1:00
• 6, Karl Baudron, Naturgas Energía, 1:07
• 7, Victor Manuel Moleon, Lizarte, 1:10
• 8, Alberto Just, Cai, 1:13
• 9, Adrián González, Opel Ibaigane, 1:15
• 10, Beñat Txoperena, Bidelan, 1:19