Barbero nets fourth in Portugal

Carlos Barbero finished just off the podium in Friday's first stage of the Trofeo Agostinho.

The young puncheur claimed another top result in what's been a breakthrough season, only being beaten by home rider Sérgio Ribeiro, Filippo Baggio and Fábio Silvestre. The rest of the team, Aritz Bagües, Jon Larrinaga, Igor Merino, Illart Zuazubiskar, Mikel Bizkarra, Unai Iparraguirre and Mikel Aristi all came in with the pack except for the latter, the young Gipuzkoan trailing home 10:48 in arrears.

The team's strong showing in Portugal comes hot on the heels of an even more impressive outing in the Giro della Valle d'Aosta.

Barbero, Aristi, Haritz Orbe and Mikel Iturria competed for an assembled Basque national team and came away with a second and third place on stages, and a noteworthy seventh overall for young Iturria.

Iturria, who also came agonizingly close to a stage win on day three, was pleased afterwards.

"I'm pleased. Very pleased", he tells Basque Cycling News. "Though I'm left with the feeling that I could have done even more! In general, though, it was very good".

Photo: Equipo Euskadi