Velasco axed from final races

In what is likely to be regarded as a cynical move by the team management, Iván Velasco has been dropped from this weekend's Italian classics.

The outgoing Euskaltel rider, who, along with Amets Txurruka, was told to find a new team by Igor González de Galdeano amid much controversy last week, was slated to ride this week's Italian double-header: The Giro del Piemonte on Thursday, and the Il Lombardia on Saturday. That is now not going to happen, as he's been replaced by Mikel Landa for both races.

"I was told a few hours before travelling that I wasn't going to Piemonte or Lombardia (after all)... it's a difficult situation to assimilate, the end...", the 32-year-old climber tweeted Tuesday evening.

The decision to remove Velasco from the team was likely made with a view towards the UCI's rankings, as any points accumulated by the Arrasate, Gipuzkoa, native this season won't count towards the team's total for 2013. On the other side, it's not likely to make Velasco's search for a new employer any easier.