Tour du Limousin round-up

While most of the attention the last week has surrounded the team's imminent demise, Euskaltel Euskadi have quietly taken part in the Tour de Limousin in France.

The four-day event brought no victories or podium placings for the guys in orange, but they did come close on several occasions.

Ricardo García formed part of the day's break on stage two, Peio Bilbao got fifth and Adrián Sáez made a daring late-race move on stage three, and Gorka Izagirre ended up fourth after joining a five-man break that would go on to dispute the stage win on Friday's fourth and final stage.

Overall, Izagirre ended up as the team's best man on GC in 17th - a minute and eight seconds down on victor Martin Elmiger of IAM.

"We talked about going on the offensive on the team bus this morning", Izagirre, set to ride for Movistar in 2014, said after the conclusion of the fourth stage. "Peio Bilbao, Adrián Sáez and I were the cards we could play.

"I managed to get into the decisive break in the latter stage, but it wasn't to be. Stéphane Rossetto (BigMat-Auber 93) attacked and managed to stay away. I eventually ended up fourth. Now I'm only focussed on the next race: the Vattenfall Cyclassics".

Final general classification:

• (1, Martin Elmiger (IAM), 18:06:53)
• 17, Gorka Izagirre, 1:08
• 25, Peio Bilbao, 1:20
• 35, Adrián Sáez, s.t.
• 43, Mikel Astarloza, s.t.
• 88, Ricardo Mestre, 36:37

Photo: Iñaki Azanza