News shorts

• Naturgas Energía will take on the five-day Vuelta a Salamanca commencing this Sunday. Seven riders - Chetout, Larrinaga, Carazo, García, Barbero, Ocampos and Merino - will take part and will "try to learn racing in the windy conditions that characterize this area of Spain", according to team DS Aritz Arberas.
• Injury-victim Xabier Zabalo has been transported from a hospital in Italy to the Hospital de la Virgen del Rosario in Madrid, Euskaltel's website says. The Orbea rider's condition is reportedly improving. There's no time-frame set for his recovery at this moment in time as la Fundación Euskadi is staying rather tight-lipped on the situation. Stay tuned for further updates on the promising young rider's health in the next few days.
• "I'm pretty good on the climbs as well as in the sprints", Orbea rider Ricardo García told El Correo, who earlier this week penned a deal with Euskaltel. "I've taken another step in the right direction this year, so I hope I can repay the team for the faith they've put in me."