Fundación Euskadi teams set for big tests

Equipo Euskadi and Naturgas Energía will both take on two of the most hard-fought races on their respective calendars this weekend and beyond.

The Continental-ranked Team Euskadi will send four of their strongest riders to the always highly-anticipated and prestigious Giro della Valle d'Aosta running from June 9-14.

Carlos Barbero, Mikel Iturria, Mikel Aristi and Haritz Orbe will, according to team DS Aritz Arberas, "fight for stage wins and the overall".

In Madrid this weekend, the same four Euskadi riders will get to face off against their Naturgas Energía friends in the sub-23 Vuelta a Madrid.

The Euskadi quartet will represent the Spanish national team, while Naturgas will send a team of their own consisting of Loïc Chetout, Alain Santamaría, Noel Gil, Karl Baudron, Víctor Etxeberría, Alain González and Francisco Javier Martín to the event.

The Naturgas riders not picked to ride in Madrid will take on a Torneo Euskaldun double-header instead - Murgia on Saturday, Salinas on Sunday.

Photo: Tour de Gironde