Naturgas resume competition

After a 14-day hiatus, Naturgas Energía will return to competition this weekend in Altzo on Tuesday, and in Oiartzun next Sunday.

The red team hasn't competed since Jon Larrinaga got the team another second place in Beasain almost two weeks ago, but will send a competent team to Tuesday's traditional hill time trial starting in Alegia, Gipuzkoa. The 5km Subida a Altzo will see Jon Larrinaga, Víctor Etxebarria, Loic Chetout and Mikel Iturria take the start, Euskaltel's website reports. 23-year-old Yelko Gómez of Caja Rural took out last year's race, the rider from Panama besting current Orbea rider Illart Zuazubiskar. The previous year, in 2010, Orbea rider Igor Merino was third, while Euskaltel duo Peio Bilbao and Víctor Cabedo were fourth and fifth respectively. No less a figure than Giro hotshot Andrey Amador took out the 2008 edition.

On Sunday the 5th of August, the whole team will line up in the Clásica de Oiartzun. The race in Oiartzun, the place Allan Davis calls home, counts towards the Torneo Euskaldun series, a race series currently led by Azysa-Telco'm-Conor WRC rider Borja Abasolo ahead of team-mate Mike Terpstra.

"It's the Torneo Euskaldun, so we'll compete with older riders (the series is upon to both sub-23s and elite riders). Our goal is to return to activity, maintain our level of form, be combative and do our best to be ahead", DS Iñigo Urretxua says.

Photo: Iñaki Azanza