Concerns raised over "delay" in Euskaltel takeover

The team of Fernando Alonso have expressed their concern over the time it is taking to reach an agreement with the current holders of Euskaltel Euskadi's WorldTour license.

Despite reports to the contrary, Alonso and his men are yet to actually purchase the license. According to a report in El Comercio on Sunday, negotiations are dragging on for two reasons.

The first and biggest issue appears to be the contracts of the Euskaltel staff. Alonso has confirmed that the deals of the 14 riders under contract will be respected next year, but the main sticking point is the contracts of the backroom staff: the mechanics, soigneurs, masseurs and sport directors.

Current General Manager at Euskaltel, Igor González de Galdeano, has repeatedly stressed the importance of saving the jobs of his current staff, but Alonso's men appear keen on bringing in new personnel.

It's believed mechanics Senén Pintado (Movistar) and Alejandro Torralbo (Saxo Tinkoff), as well as masseur 'Chopi' González (Astana), are all wanted at the new team - partly because they all hail from Asturias, Alonso and Samuel Sánchez's home region and likely headquarter of the new team.

The newspaper claims de Galdeano will not hinder a deal being reached if Alonso opts to not bring him into the new set-up, but, admirably, the former pro doesn't want to leave his staff on the street.

de Galdeano told the team's website that talks are proceeding "slower than expected", but that they still hope to reach a deal "in the next few days".

Kiko García, the former ONCE pro set to lead the new squad, told Cyclingnews' Alisdair Fotheringham that "the documents are all there, but the final agreement has not been signed".

"I don't doubt the huge goodwill on all sides, and I'm sure it will all be fine. And it's the same when you buy a car; you want to be really sure of everything.

"But the process is taking quite a while, a little more than I would like, above all because of the deadlines", García continued, referring to the UCI's 30th of September deadline - the day all WorldTour teams need to confirm their continuation into the coming season.

The second issue hindering negotiations is the tax laws in Spain.

Companies pay a substantial smaller tax in the Basque Country compared to Asturias and the rest of Spain, casting the moving of the team's headquarters out of Euskadi into doubt. This issue is not thought to be jeopardizing the team's future, though.

As pointed out by Cyclingnews, Catalan newspaper El Periodico claims a deal with a new main sponsor has already been reached.

The morning daily reports that Italian car manufacturer FIAT is set to be the team's main backer, but García refused to comment on what yet appears to be rumours and just that. García also refrained from commenting on reports that Cervélo are leading the race to become the team's bike supplier, as well as claims Chris Horner is set to sign for the team.

The recent Vuelta victor's contract with his current employer expires at the end of the year, and the American has not denied he's on the look-out for a team.

Photo: Sports Illustrated

Galdeano - This was the best way to say goodbye

Euskaltel Euskadi concluded their final Grand Tour by winning their first ever team classification prize on Sunday.

The final stage of the Vuelta a España was as expected decided in a mass sprint finish in downtown Madrid, meaning the team easily held onto their lead in the team rankings.

While a stage win and an overall podium placing eluded the team, a visibly emotional Igor González de Galdeano expressed his delight at bowing out by taking "the best win possible".

"Going into the race, we had set ourselves three goals: a stage, a podium place for Samuel Sánchez and the team rankings", the team head explained. "We've reached both goals in years prior, but we'd never succeeded before now to win the team classification in a Grand Tour. This is the best win and the best way to say goodbye", he continued somewhat philosophically.

While the season - and with it Euskaltel Euskadi as we know it - is by now means over just yet, de Galdeano felt a rush of emotions while up on the stage.

"I've always emphasized team work and being solid as a unit - that everyone forming part of the team feels a part of the success. We achieved that on our last try", he said. "I felt a lot of feelings going through me while we enjoyed ourselves on the podium. Images, pictures, memories, feelings... Everything went through my mind so quickly. Questions everywhere... It was a very special moment", he concluded.

Team leader Sánchez closed out his final Grand Tour appearance in an orange jersey with a respectable eighth place finish, leading the way ahead of Igor Antón in 20th and Mikel Nieve in 23rd.

A win might have escaped the team, but winning the team prize perhaps feels even sweeter - if only because it puts the focus on the team and not one single individual. More than anything, it's always been about the team at Euskaltel.

Results:

• (1, Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge), 2:44:00)
• 26, Gorka Verdugo, 0:03
• 32, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 35, Egoi Martínez, s.t.
• 40, Mikel Nieve, s.t.
• 43, Juan José Oroz, s.t.
• 49, Jorge Azanza, s.t.
• 51, Mikel Landa, s.t.
• 62, Samuel Sánchez, s.t.
• 63, Pablo Urtasun, s.t.

Final general classification:

• (1, Chris Horner (RadioShack-Leopard), 84:36:04)
• 8, Samuel Sánchez, 9:51
• 20, Igor Antón, 33:05
• 23, Mikel Nieve, 49:36
• 30, Egoi Martínez, 1:12:18
• 39, Mikel Landa, 1:37:26
• 46, Juan José Oroz, 1:48:50
• 63, Gorka Verdugo, 2:20:01
• 90, Jorge Azanza, 3:03:39
• 122, Pablo Urtasun, 4:08:50

Izagirre shines in Montréal

Ion Izagirre showed flashes of his pedigree for hilly one-day races by powering to an eighth place finish in the GR Montréal on Sunday.

The talented puncheur formed part of the select group that formed in the closing stages of the second of the two Canadian WorldTour races, joining the likes of eventual winner Peter Sagan, Ryder Hesjedal, Rui Costa and Greg Van Avermaet in the race's deciding move.

No one was able to go with "The Hulk" when he turned on the turbo, but the youngest of the Izagirres stayed with the group behind the lone Cannondale rider as they sprinted for fourth behind late escapees Simone Ponzi and the aforementioned Hesjedal.

Eventually Izagirre had to make do with ninth, while his team-mates Miguel Mínguez, Peio Bilbao and Romain Sicard all came in with the main chase group at 26 seconds.

Results:

• (1, Peter Sagan (Cannondale), 5:20:07)
• 9, Ion Izagirre, 0:09
• 36, Miguel Mínguez, 0:26
• 38, Peio Bilbao, s.t.
• 43, Romain Sicard, s.t.
• 63, Adrián Sáez, 4:25
• 75, Gorka Izagirre, 6:25
• DNF: Rubén Pérez, Ricardo García

Chetout lands podium in Alsasua

Loïc Chetout continued his strong run of results by sprinting to third in the last Torneo Euskaldun race of the year in Alsasua on Sunday.

Lizarte's Rafael Márquez grabbed an impressive win, coming in a second ahead of former pro Ion Pardo and the Naturgas Energía Frenchman.

Chetout's team-mates Imanol Estévez and Karl Baudron spent the majority of the day up ahead in the break, claiming the mountains and intermediate sprints classifications respectively.

Higinio Fernández led the overall rankings going into the race and successfully defended his lead to be crowned overall victor of the Torneo Euskaldun 2013.

Results:

1. Rafael Márquez (Lizarte), 2:56:59
2. Ion Pardo (Entente Sud Gascogne), 0:01
3. Loïc Chetout (Naturgas Energía), s.t.
4. Unai Elorriaga (Eustrak), 0:06
5. Miguel Ángel Benito (Caja Rural), 0:11
6. Antonio Pedrero (Lizarte), s.t.

Photo: Iñaki Azanza

Euskaltel crowned best team in final Vuelta appearance

Barring catastrophe on Sunday's final stage, Euskaltel will run away with the team prize in the final Grand Tour in their current guise.

Samuel Sánchez, Igor Antón, Mikel Nieve et al. weren't able to fight for what would have been an emotional victory atop cycling's possibly hardest climb - the Angliru -  on the 20th and penultimate leg on Saturday, but the team's all-round consistency ensured they defended the lead in the team rankings with only the final processional stage left.

'Samu' did enough to rise to eighth overall, though, leapfrogging Leopold König courtesy of his 14th place finish. Euskaltel took control of the pack as the race closed in on the feared Angliru, but the riders in orange had no response to the vicious accelerations of eventual overall victor Chris Horner, runner-up Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde and company.

French youngster Kenny Elissonde courageously made it to the summit all alone to grab a career-defining win, while late bloomer Horner did enough and then some to score his first Grand Tour triumph at the ripe young age of 41.

Euskaltel will be the only team to complete the race with all nine riders tomorrow afternoon, despite Pablo Urtasun hitting the deck in full flight going down the Cordal climb prior to the Angliru.

The veteran all-rounder hurt his right knee and hip, but impressively got up and finished the stage.

Results:

• (1, Kenny Elissonde (FDJ.fr), 3:55:36)
• 14, Samuel Sánchez, 2:26
• 22, Mikel Nieve, 4:26
• 27, Juan José Oroz, 6:13
• 30, Igor Antón, 7:25
• 40, Mikel Landa, 10:30
• 60, Egoi Martínez, 15:10
• 107, Gorka Verdugo, 24:25
• 122, Jorge Azanza, 25:04
• 138, Pablo Urtasun, 25:52

Photo: Iñaki Azanza

Pedrero wins as González holds onto lead

Antonio Pedrero handed Lizarte yet another win of what's been a dominant season for the team from Navarra in Friday's Circuito de Sollube.

The 21-year-old Catalan had way too much in the tank for everyone else in the Torneo Lehendakari race in and around Bermeo and centred on the famous Sollube climb, a 5,2km climb averaging approximately seven percent.

Pedrero came in six seconds ahead of his nearest challenger to claim his second win of the year - going on to claim post-race that he should have been selected for the sub-23 Worlds team.

Caja Rural's Jaime Rosón edged Gipuzkoa-Eki Sport's Jon Iriarte for second, while Naturgas Energía rider Alain González defended his overall race series lead with only two races left to go.

Results:

1. Antonio Pedrero (Lizarte), 2:11:17
2. Jaime Rosón (Caja Rural), 0:06
3. Jon Iriarte (Gipuzkoa-Eki Sport), s.t.
4. Antonio Molina (Caja Rural), 0:34
5. Miguel Ángel Aguilera (Lizarte), s.t.
6. Miguel Ángel Benito (Caja Rural), s.t.
7. Diego Rubio (Caja Rural), 0:41
8. Rafael Márquez (Lizarte), s.t.
9. Imanol Estévez (Naturgas Energía), s.t.
10. Ander Plazaola (Lizarte), s.t.

Photo: www.navarrasport.com

No Euskaltel success in Canada

The first of the two WorldTour races in Canada went by without any of the Euskaltel riders managing to animate the racing.

Robert Gesink's incredibly slow, yet powerful long-distance sprint finish handed Belkin an impressive win against the odds in Québec. Euskaltel fielded a capable team featuring the likes of the Izagirre brothers, but none of them were on their a-game and thus struggled to be competitive.

Peio Bilbao did get into the main break of the day, but the youngster and his two breakaway companions never looked like running away with the race and were swept up well in time for the decisive part of the race.

Romain Sicard ended being the team's best rider in 31st place, eight seconds down. Just behind him was Ion Izagirre and Miguel Mínguez.

Results:

• (1, Robert Gesink (Belkin), 4:58:13)
• 31, Romain Sicard, 0:08
• 32, Ion Izagirre, 0:15
• 33, Miguel Mínguez, s.t.
• 44, Adrián Sáez, 0:57
• 45, Ricardo García, s.t.
• 71, Gorka Izagirre, 1:40
• DNF: Peio Bilbao and Rubén Pérez

Photo: BCPT

Sánchez shows up on home roads

Samuel Sánchez claimed a creditable fourth place on the 19th stage of the Vuelta a España on Friday.

The stage, ending atop the famed Naranco climb close to Sánchez's home city of Oviedo in Asturias, was ideally suited to pocket rocket Joaquim Rodríguez, and the Katusha leader delivered and then some by cantering to the win.

No one was able to get even remotely close to grabbing hold of his wheel, but 'Samu' paid homage to his friends and family lining the roadside by launching a powerful attack inside the last click. For a while he looked a good bet for second on the stage, but he was eventually passe by both Diego Ulissi and Daniel Moreno, meaning he had to make do with fourth on the day.

Not much changed on GC. Heading into the last decisive stage on Saturday, the Euskaltel leader occupies ninth overall.

Results:

• (1, Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha), 4:16:13)
• 4, Samuel Sánchez, 0:11
• 14, Mikel Nieve, 0:41
• 17, Egoi Martínez, 0:51
• 28, Gorka Verdugo, 1:29
• 33, Mikel Landa, 1:57
• 48, Juan José Oroz, 4:19
• 66, Jorge Azanza, 9:31
• 69, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 143, Pablo Urtasun, 21:10

Photo: BCPT

Martínez continues chase for elusive win

The seemingly never-tiring Egoi Martínez was once again in the thick of the action in Thursday's stage of the Vuelta a España.

The 35-year-old has been present in numerous dangerous breaks thus far in the race, but the veteran and his team is still looking to be rewarded.

Vasil Kiryienka handed Sky a deserved win with a sensational solo move in the closing 40 clicks of the 18th stage from Burgos to the top of the brutal Peña Cabarga climb. The Belarusian had far too much in the tank for Martínez and the rest of the riders that made up the big break of the day, the Euskaltel rider eventually claiming fifth on the day.

"I made it into the right break again, but once again it wasn't to be", he said post-stage. "Kiryienka was very strong, and I knew it'd be hard to win if I didn't manage to cling onto his wheel. On his day he's so strong, and he was impossible to beat.

"Once I realized I wouldn't be able to catch up with him, I kept going at it for the sake of the team classification. We had a chance to gain time, so I emptied myself to take as much time as possible".

Martínez's efforts were not in vain. Due to his fifth on the stage, coupled with Samuel Sánchez's 15th and Igor Antón's 19th, Euskaltel solidified their place atop the team rankings. Heading into the last three stages, the team holds a 4:35 lead on Movistar.

On GC, 'Samu' maintained his ninth overall.

Results:

• (1, Vasil Kiryienka (Sky), 4:46:48)
• 5, Egoi Martínez, 1:42
• 15, Samuel Sánchez, 2:36
• 19, Igor Antón, 2:49
• 41, Mikel Nieve, 5:26
• 64, Jorge Azanza, 8:49
• 68, Mikel Landa, s.t.
• 79, Juan José Oroz, 11:09
• 97, Gorka Verdugo, 12:13
• 138, Pablo Urtasun, 22:16

Photo: BCPT

Alonso to punish dopers on 'new Euskaltel'

Aiming to make sure his foray into the world of professional cycling doesn't end abruptly and with a tarnished reputation, Fernando Alonso has decided to insert an anti-doping clause into the contracts of the riders that will make up his team in 2014.

So reports Bilbao-based daily El Correo this morning. Euskaltel were hit hard by the positive test of Alexander Serebryakov earlier this year, and the Formula 1 star seems intent on avoiding a similar case.

If a rider fails a test, he'll be forced to compensate the team out of his own pocket for ruining the team's image. How much the riders will be forced to pay is, for now, unknown.

To make sure he's bought a team that is indeed doing things the right way already, El Correo claim Alonso's manager, Luis García Abad, called up the director of the Spanish Anti-Doping Agency, Ana Muños Merino, to make sure nothing suspicious is going on at the team.

Euskaltel, like most modern teams, of course have a history not entirely bereft of doping scandals.

The team have somehow avoided getting caught up in the biggest doping investigations over the last few years, but the cases of Txema del Olmo, Iñigo Landaluze, Gorka and Aitor González, César Solaun, Aitor Kintana, Aketza Peña, Mikel Astarloza, the aforementioned Serebryakov and of course the connections to infamous team doctors Jesús Losa, José Ibarguren and Iñaki Arratibel, have at various times tarnished the team's reputation.

As El Correo point out, rumours circulated not long after the Serebryakov case that Tarik Chaoufi was also in trouble with the UCI. What those "troubles" actually consisted of, and whether there indeed was any "trouble with the UCI", is unknown, though, and Chaoufi should then naturally be given the benefit of the doubt.

Photo: The Telegraph

Equipo Euskadi embark on last journey

Equipo Euskadi will most likely write the final chapter of a what's been a long and successful story in China the coming weeks.

The team's economic woes have been known for quite some time, and the likelihood of a new sponsor coming onboard Fernando Alonso-style is diminishing by the hour.

The team heads appear to have accepted defeat in the hunt for a new backer, and team head and alma mater Miguel Madariaga admitted the team's upcoming participation in the Tours of China might very well turn out to be their final participation in a bike race ever.

"We're eager to start the race", he told the team's website. "We're sure we'll put on a good performance in our last race of the year, a race that might also be the last race in our history".

The nine-day race in Asia commences on Friday with a 5,8km prologue, and Arberas has naturally decided to field six of his strongest charges.

Unai Iparraguirre, Mikel Aristi, Jon Larrinaga, Aritz Bagües, Mikel Bizkarra and Illart Zuazubiskar will lead the team in its first Asian adventure.

Photo: Pedalierweb

'Samu' survives wind scare

For a change, Euskaltel were not caught out when the wind made an appearance in Wednesday's 17th stage of the Vuelta a España.

While Domenico Pozzovivo, Thibaut Pinot and a host of sprinters were left reeling their inattentiveness, team leader Samuel Sánchez made the cut and came home safe and sound inside the first group. Pablo Urtasun tried his hand in the sprint finish, but a surprise move by Bauke Mollema caught everyone off guard and made sure Team Belkin escaped with the stage win.

Saying Euskaltel weren't caught out at all isn't correct though. Igor Antón and Mikel Nieve once again failed to place themselves well, coming in several minutes back.

Heading into a trio of demanding stages, Sánchez is 9th overall, Antón 15th and Nieve 28th.

Results:

• (1, Bauke Mollema (Belkin), 4:44:28)
• 13, Pablo Urtasun, s.t.
• 16, Egoi Martínez, s.t.
• 20, Samuel Sánchez, s.t.
• 28, Gorka Verdugo, s.t.
• 45, Igor Antón, 1:31
• 84, Juan José Oroz, s.t.
• 115, Mikel Landa, 5:39
• 116, Jorge Azanza, s.t.
• 117, Mikel Nieve, s.t.

Photo: Orbea

Euskadi trio gets green light for Worlds

If Equipo Euskadi does cease to exist, at least they're going out with a bang.

The Continental-ranked team has enjoyed a stellar season so far, something national sub-23 team boss Pascual Momparler naturally has noticed. Spain's team for the World Championships was today revealed, and Equipo Euskadi riders take up three of the five spots available.

Joining recent Tour de l'Avenir victor Rubén Fernández (Caja Rural) and national sub-23 road race champion Mario González (Cafés Baqué-Conservas Campos) in Italy will be Carlos Barbero, Haritz Orbe (pictured above as a young hopeful) and Mikel Iturria.

González and Iturria will also line up in the time trial.

Photo: Orbea

Alonso set to go big with Euskaltel in 2015

While Euskaltel fans are excited and rightly so to see what's in store for 2014, Fernando Alonso's new team is only expected to fully take shape in 2015.

The news of the Formula 1 star - second in Monza this past weekend - taking over the reins at Euskaltel has been met by almost unanimous praise in the cycling community. However, few, if anyone, really knows what the team will look like.

What is clear, though, is that all 14 riders with a contract in place for next year are almost guaranteed to stay on into 2014 and beyond. These 14 riders are: Samuel Sánchez, Igor Antón, Juan José Lobato, Mikel Nieve, Jon Aberasturi, Peio Bilbao, Mikel Landa, Ion Izagirre, Rubén Pérez, Romain Sicard, Egoi Martínez, Gorka Verdugo, Garikoitz Bravo and Miguel Mínguez.

All of them will likely be on Alonso's books next year, but seeing as several of the aforementioned riders have been negotiating with other teams lately, that's still to be formally decided. Two of them, Juan José Lobato and Igor Antón, are thought to have opted to stay despite being in advanced negotiations with other teams prior to Alonso buying the team's license.

Former pro Kiko García will, though still not officially hired, be one of the team heads alongside Igor González de Galdeano.

Speaking to BiciCiclismo, García says the 14 riders on contracts will form the backbone of the team next year, and that, if necessary, they'll take on riders with UCI points to their name in the winter to fulfill the UCI's sporting criteria.

García was coy on what will happen with the riders whose contracts expire this year, only saying that "we'll for sure bring in 10-12 new riders".

As we're already in September, those riders are unlikely to be big-name GC contenders or sprinters. As a consequence, 2014 will by all accounts be a transitional year.

"For us it's about doing the best we can with what we've got in 2014, and then make a big leap forward in 2015 towards a bigger and more international project".

Rumours have it that Alberto Contador is keen on joining 'Samu' and Alonso on their 'super-team', but that appears to be more likely in 2015 at the earliest.

According to Alonso himself, "it's important we go step by step. Hopefully we'll be able to create a solid and professional team, a team that's capable of attracting big-name riders", he wrote on his Twitter account the other day.

As for what the future holds for Euskaltel's current staff and back room employees, no one knows at this moment in time.

The same goes for the team's location. Initial reports had it that the team would be based out of Asturias, where both Sánchez and Alonso hail from, but that won't necessarily be the case.

According to Luis García Abad, one of Alonso's representatives, nothing's been decided.

"It's premature to talk about that", he told El Correo. "The team's headquarters is right now in Bilbao, and we'll opt for the place that makes the most sense from a logistical viewpoint once we've got sponsors on board. If an American sponsor comes on board, for example, it would be logical to go to the US".

Colnago have been linked with supplying the team with bikes, but that's also nothing but rumours, says García Abad.

"We haven't decided anything - absolutely nothing. We'll figure that out when we're in a position to make a decision".

A decision is also yet to be taken on who'll manufacture the team's jerseys. Euskaltel's current provider, Bio Racer, inked a two-year deal with the team last winter, meaning they might well stay on into 2015.

Photo: www.fanpop.com