Ibai Salas: best regional cyclist

Ibai Salas has continued where he left off in the 2012 season by winning in the off-season: The 21-year-old has won the prestigious local award of "Best amateur rider in Vizcaya" for 2012.

The Caja Rural prodigy received the honour off the back of a stunning campaign, including a Copa de España win, the overall of the Tres Días de Álava and a ride at the Tour de l'Avenir, BiciCiclismo reports. He was chosen as the recipient of the award by a who's who of Basque cycling experts: BiciCiclismo duo Unai Iraragorri and Carlos González Llinares, Javi Bodegas of Urtekaria, Patxo Gangoiti of Sociedad Ciclista Valentín  Uriona in Mungia, and Jesús Mari Agirre, one of the organizers of the prize and the event.

As winner of the prize, Salas follows in the wheel tracks of the likes of former Euskaltel riders Amets Txurruka, Beñat Intxausti, Jonathan Castroviejo and Lander Euba, former Orbea riders Ibon Lavín and Omar Fraile, erstwhile Cafés Baqué rider Fran Gutiérrez, Mikel Elgezabal, formerly of Costa de Almería-Paternina, ex-Caja Rural Mikel Filgueira, and of course current Euskaltel stars Peio Bilbao and Igor Antón.

Ibai Salas will embark on his second year with the green team next year, his fourth in the amateur category.

Photo: Team Caja Rural