Young stars look to emulate Nieve and 'Purito'

Naturgas Energía will look to continue their highly successful start to the year in one of the most prestigious races on the calendar this Sunday: the Memorial Valenciaga.

The red and whites already have two wins to their name courtesy of Loïc Chetout, and the Frenchman will line up in Eibar in two days' time as one of the main favourites.

If one of the Naturgas Energía rider do go on to triumph, they'll follow in the footsteps of modern-day stars like Mikel Nieve, Joaquim Rodríguez and Óscar Freire. Last year's race was taken out by Eduard Prades, the Catalonian now a pro at Portuguese outfit OFM-Quinta de Lixa-Goldentimes.

Naturgas Energía line-up:
Loïc Chetout, Imanol Estévez, Francisco Javier Martín, Álvaro Trueba, Alain González, Karl Baudron and Víctor Etxeberría.

Photo: Karlis Medrano