"It's not for specialists"

Yesterday it was confirmed by BiciCiclismo that both Igor Antón and Samuel Sánchez will take part in this year's Vuelta al País Vasco. The duo, along with Jorge Azanza, Gorka Izagirre, Mikel Nieve, Iván Velasco and Mikel Astarloza, reconned the race's concluding time trial on Tuesday - and said it's hard enough to create big gaps among the favourites.

"It's a very demanding parcours", Antón told www.esciclismo.com. "It's not one for the specialists, it's more suited to whoever is strongest on the day. The start, with it's climbs and steep descents, is tough. Afterwards, on the flatter stretches, it'll be important to get up to speed before another climb comes towards the end. It's a very demanding crono in which I think big gaps might develop".

Samuel Sánchez told the same website that the 19,2km test in Oñati reminded him of the time trial in Oiartzun in the 2007 edition - a time trial he won.

"The organizers have sought to create a spectacle, and I think they've succeeded. It's a very winding course with numerous curves and changes of pace. To a certain extent it reminds me of the Oiartzun time trial on the final day of the 2007 race. The characteristics are very similar. I think it suits us, and we'll give it our all on the day".

In other news, Astore, the manufacturer of the team's casual clothes and tracksuits, today unveiled a new Euskaltel-line of clothes. Euskaltel polo shirts, bags, hats, shirts, tracksuits and sweatshirts can now be bought in Astore's outlets. The same seven riders that checked out the País Vasco time trial course were present in Arrasate earlier today to showcase the clothes, writes www.fundacioneuskadi.com. Click this link to check it out.