Estévez strong as Azysa dominate

Imanol Estévez grabbed a strong seventh in yesterday's GP San Antonio - Memorial Fernando Expósito, a race that also counted as the regional Cantabrian Championships. Azysa-Telco'm-Conor did as they pleased and took out all three podium placings.

The Azysa trio of Niki Terpstra's 25-year-old brother Mike, Argentinian powerhouse Ignacio Pérez and Arkaitz Durán, who needs no further introduction, made their move 60 clicks into the race and were never to be seen again. Local rider José Manuel González of Gomur initially went with the three, but was forced to let go on the climb of San Mateo, paving the way for a Azysa to run riot. Terpstra crossed the line ahead of Pérez and Durán to take top honours, a full 2:37 ahead of the nearest competitor. Mario Gómez (CAI) led the pack home in fourth to be crowned elite Cantabrian champ, while number five, Jesús Herrero (Gomur), took the sub23-title.

Estévez took a solid seventh just six seconds behind Gómez, while Javier Francisco Martín came in on the same time to take 26th.

Results:

• 1, Mike Terpstra (Azysa), 3:12:37
• 2, Ignacio Pérez (Azysa), s.t.
• 3, Arkaitz Durán (Azysa), s.t.
• 7, Imanol Estévez, 2:43
• 26, Francisco Javier Martín, s.t.
• 37, Mikel Iturria, 2:48
• 39, Jon Larrinaga, 2:52

Samu heading for altitude

Samuel Sánchez will head to the thin air of Sierra Nevada to hone his form for the Tour de France.

So says www.elcomercio.es Tuesday morning. The website reports the Euskaltel captain will take in a ten-day stint of altitude training in the Spanish mountain range, starting tomorrow and ending on the 23rd of June. As a consequence, he'll forego (as he usually does) the Spanish time trial champs, which are being held on June 22nd this year, and in all likelihood also the road race being held a pair of days later. It was reported yesterday that the reigning Olympic champ suffers from an oedema in one of his ribs on the right side of his body as well as having strained his left latissimus dorsi muscle because of his crash on stage one of the Dauphiné, but it's now confirmed it won't stop him lining up in Liège on June the 30th.

"If I'd abandoned the Dauphiné, I would be a step behind in my preparations and could almost have said goodbye to the Tour", he stated. "But I managed to press on and now have at least eight days of top-level competition in my legs.

"As for predictions for July, Wiggins is very strong and his team, Sky, look to be top motivated. Evans also looked to be going really well - and don't discard Andy Schleck".

Sánchez ordered to rest

As a result of his crash in the recently concluded Critérium du Dauphiné, Samuel Sánchez will be forced to take a couple of days off the bike.

The Euskaltel captain hit the deck hard on day one of the French stage-race. Medical check-ups discarded any fractures though, and the Tour de France podium hopeful duly went on to complete the entire race, stating it was essential if he is to be competitive come July.

An MRI was done this morning to provide a clearer view on the state of the 34-year-old's injuries, and he was diagnosed with an oedema in rib number four on his right side and a muscle strain in his left latissimus dorsi muscle. The team's website reports he'll rest for at least two days before he'll be able to resume training.

Photo: www.procycling.no

Nieve maintains top ten in Suisse

While today's third stage of the Tour de Suisse was everything but normal, it was a relatively uncomplicated one for Euskaltel as Mikel Nieve stayed ninth on GC.

The 194,7 kilometres between Martigny and Aarberg will forever be remembered for a poorly timed railway crossing and the ensuing chaos that split the peloton in two with some 55 clicks to go. Movistar, who got pretty much all of their riders across just in time, used the occasion to make fools of themselves by deciding to press on and distance the rest of the peloton instead of sitting up and wait - as it the custom. After some discussions with the race officials, and embarrassing protestations from Marzio Bruseghin, the team of overnight leader Rui Alberto Faria da Costa eventually decided to wait for the rest of the pack. The break up the road, who profited massively from the anarchy ruling behind, was reeled in inside the last kilometre and Peter Sagan went on to take the win everyone expected him to. Rubén Pérez figured near the front of the peloton in the last five clicks, seemingly intent on giving it a go in the sprint, but never really found his place and had to settle for a distant 21st.

Nieve stayed out of trouble and crossed the line among the other GC contenders, while Romain Sicard had to concede 31 seconds by stage's end. Urtasun and Antón amazingly managed to finish more than 13 minutes in arrears - the former thus not doing his chances of being picked for the Tour de France any good.

Stage three results:

• (1, Peter Sagan (Liquigas), 4:35:32)
• 21, Rubén Pérez, 0:03
• 29, Mikel Astarloza, s.t.
• 39, Mikel Nieve, s.t.
• 45, Iván Velasco, s.t.
• 55, Gorka Izagirre, s.t.
• 122, Romain Sicard, 0:31
• 158, Igor Antón, 13:22
• 159, Pablo Urtasun, s.t.

Photo: www.fundacioneuskadi.com

Bagües makes his mark in Portugal

Aritz Bagües came away from the GP Abimota in Portugal this weekend with the 'Special sprints'-classification in the bag.

Orbea sent an eight-man team to the three-day Gran Premio Abimota, featuring Jon Aberasturi, Mikel Bizkarra, Andoni Blázquez, Aritz Etxebarria, Aritz Bagües, Xavier Zabalo, Haritz Orbe and Omar Fraile. But while the team failed to grab any significant stage placings over the three days, Bagües made sure the race wasn't a total write-off for the blue team with the classification win mentioned above.

22-year-old Bagües gathered six points over the weekend, enough to hold off team-mate Blázquez by one point and Gios-Deyser's once-promising Salvador Guardiola by three. The native of San Sebastián, who made the move to Orbea ahead of the 2011 season after a promising campaign with Bidelan, has struggled for results so far in his Orbea career, and will undoubtedly look to kick on after his classification win in Portugal.

Aberasturi was unsurprisingly the rider who bagged the team's top placing, sprinting to sixth on day one. Disgraced former pro Moisés Dueñas took out day two en route to the overall win. Omar Fraile was again the team's highest-placed rider on GC in 17th.

Final general classification:

• (1, Moisés Dueñas (Supermercados Froiz), 11:41:17)
• 17, Omar Fraile, 0:27
• 24, Aritz Bagües, 0:42
• 27, Mikel Bizkarra, 1:01
• 51, Xabier Zabalo, 16:51
• 56, Andoni Blázquez, 21:09
• 65, Haritz Orbe, 25:24
• 67, Aritz Etxebarria, s.t.
• 72, Jon Aberasturi, 30:19

Photo: Iñaki Azanza.

Three riders to sign

If the current rumours surrounding the team's future turn out to be true, i.e. Euskaltel backing the team with some nine million euro from 2013 and onwards, the team's chiefs will no doubt be looking to recruit from outside the Fundación Euskadi-institution in order to keep their place in the WorldTour. The likes of Intxausti and Castroviejo, to name but a few of stand-out Basques plying their trade away from Euskaltel, are both under contract in 2013 - otherwise they would of course have featured in this short list. Those aside, here's the trio of riders they should sign:

Ibai Salas:
The 20-year-old is showing signs of his true potential this year with Caja Rural and belongs at a higher level. The native of Bilbao has had a successful season to date, taking out the prestigious Three Days of Álava in April among other races, and would likely be tempted to ride for his home team. He's an all-rounder with a decent motor who will surely be picked up by the professional Caja Rural outfit this year or next if he continues in the same vein. One for the future.

Arkaitz Durán:
A no-brainer. Has been riding with Azysa-Telco'm-Conor in the amateur ranks this year after the implosion of Geox late 2011, and would jump at the chance to return to the pro ranks - his stated aim for 2013. Has already racked up 10 (!) wins on the competitive Spanish circuit and we're not even halfway through June. Despite seemingly having been in the peloton for ages, the Vitoria-native is still only 26 and should, logically, be about to enter the best years of his career. Having bypassed the amateur ranks by going straight from the juniors to the pros under Joxean Matxin's tutelage back in 2005, Durán has flattered to deceive ever since. A year in the amateur ranks, rediscovering the feeling of winning bike races, may actually do him good. As they say, form is temporary, class is permanent. Undoubted potential - time to give him a shot.

Imanol Erviti: 
With two Vuelta-stages to his name, it's hard to grasp that 28-year-old Imanol Erviti is still a relatively unknown rider to the wider cycling public. The Pamplona-born Movistar rider has five wins on his palmares, but has almost exclusively been used as a domestique in his career. Rock-solid, big motor, extensive Grand Tour-experience, good all-rounder and with a penchant for picking out the winning breaks, Erviti would be a valuable asset to Euskaltel. He's still got many years left in him at the highest level and may prosper if given freer reins. One for the present.

Photo: www.nettavisen.no

Suisse: Nieve third on Verbier

Mikel Nieve made good use of his post-Giro d'Italia form to climb to third on today's second stage of the Tour de Suisse.

The 28-year-old, fresh off 10th overall in the Italian GT, looked lively and at his best on the steep finishing climb of the Verbier at the end of the mammoth 218,3km stage starting in Verbania. Fränk Schleck left it all on the road with a daring attack six clicks from the top, but Nieve, along with the likes of eventual victor Alberto Rui Faria da Costa and John Gadret, soon went on the attack as well, putting in several digs to eventually distance a small group containing most of the GC favourites. While Movistar's Portuguese wonderkid managed to catch and pass the ailing Schleck inside the last 400 metres, Nieve couldn't quite keep up but still had enough in the tank to grab a creditable third and with it a ninth overall. And, perhaps more importantly, a few WorldTour-points to go with it.

The team at one point had a trio of riders in the lead group, but Gorka Izagirre and Mikel Astarloza were forced to let go of the front-runners once Schleck made his move. The two still did well though to finish 26th and 27th respectively at 1:40, while Antón, still easing his way back into shape after breaking his collarbone in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, came home with the gruppetto some 13 minutes back.

Stage two results:

• (1, Rui Costa (Movistar), 6:21:13)
• 3, Mikel Nieve, 0:12
• 26, Gorka Izagirre, 1:40
• 27, Mikel Astarloza, s.t.
• 70, Iván Velasco, 4:50
• 124, Romain Sicard, 10:10
• 125, Rubén Pérez, s.t.
• 150, Pablo Urtasun, 13:24
• 151, Igor Antón, s.t.

It's a fact: Nieve's third place marks only his second third place in his career - the other one came a few weeks ago atop the Stelvio. 

Photo: www.cyclingnews.com

Durán doubles up as Euskadi champ

Arkaitz Durán offered further proof of his class by taking out both the road and time trial titles in the Euskadi Championships this weekend.

The champs were held in Villarreal de Álava, or Legutio as it's called in Basque, in the region of Álava on Saturday and Sunday, and the local hero, Durán hails from the region's capital, Vitoria, left everyone  in his wake as he further strengthened his case for a return to the pro peloton in 2013.

The 110km road race, ending atop the Santa Barbara de Urretxu, was everything but exciting as the 26-year-old soloed to a crushing win 1:29 ahead of team-mate at Azysa, Kepa Vallejo, and a further three seconds ahead of Debabarrena's Aitor González. The latter took out the sub-23 title by beating Naturgas' Jon Larrinaga by seven seconds into third, while another Naturgas prodigy, Mikel Iturria, grabbed a strong 11th. Former Euskaltel stalwart Aitor Hernández had a decent day in the saddle en route to eighth.

Road race results (full results here courtesy of www.biciciclismo.com):

• 1, Arkaitz Durán (Azysa), 2:38:58
• 2, Kepa Vallejo (Azysa), 1:29
• 3, Aitor González (Debabarrena), 1:32 - Sub23 champ
• 4, Jon Larrinaga (Naturgas Energía), 1:39 - Sub23 runner-up
• 5, Antton Ibarguren (Caja Rural), 1:44
• 6, Markel Anton (Bidelan-Kirolgi), 1:46
• 7, Martin Iraizoz (Lizarte), s.t.
• 8, Aitor Hernández (Orbea), s.t.
• 9, Egoitz Murgoitio (Hirumet-Taldea), s.t.
• 10, Joseba del Barrio (Bidelan-Kirolgi), s.t.
• 11, Mikel Iturria (Naturgas Energía), s.t.
• 18, Imanol Estévez (Naturgas Energía), 2:26
• 19, Loïc Chetout (Naturgas Energía), s.t.
• 27, Alain González (Naturgas Energía), 3:14

In the crono, Durán bested Bidelan's Jon Ander Insausti, who last week won the Gipuzkoan champs, by 21 seconds over the 23,7km course. Jon Larrinaga once again showcased his strong state of form by taking bronze, only 31 seconds off Durán's winning time.

Time trial results, elite and under-23:

• 1, Arkaitz Durán (Azysa), 30:42
• 2, Jon Ander Insausti (Bidelan-Kirolgi), 0:21 - sub23 champ
• 3, Jon Larrinaga (Naturgas Energía), 0:31 - sub23 runner-up

Time trial results, junior:

• 1, Yerai Ruíz (Aranako-Toyota Armentia), 21:19
• 2, Ander Alonso (Ordiziako Tx. E-Caja Rural), 0:06
• 3, Aitor Morález (Zirauna-Iturribero), 0:27

In further Naturgas-related news, the team will send a sextet to the regional champs in Cantabria tomorrow, the team's website reports. Here's the team: Karl Baudron, Jon Larrinaga, Alain Santamaría, Alain González, Imanol Estévez and Francisco Javier Martín.

Photo: www.bikezona.com

Discreet ending to Dauphiné

The Dauphiné finally came to a close today with an anonymous performance from Euskaltel on the stage to Châtel.

The demanding concluding stage, that took in five categorized climbs, was another orange no-show as Egoi Martínez again was the team's top man in 23rd, 23 seconds off Dani Moreno's winning time. Martínez has by far been the team's stand-out performer in the dress rehearsal for the Tour, and looks on course for another aggressive month on the roads of France in three weeks' time.

Samuel Sánchez got through another day, coming in some six minutes down in the company of loyal servant Jorge Azanza, and was pleased to have finished the whole race after coming a cropper on day one.

"I'm pleased to have completed the Dauphiné, above all because of the hit I took on the first stage, but I haven't been able to fulfill the work I set out to do at the desired level - the crash complicated it all", he told the team's website upon crossing the line. "Tomorrow I'll undergo a more extensive medical check-up to determine the exact state of my injuries. Now I'll continue to train to reach the Tour in optimal shape".

On GC, Martínez was the team's top finisher in 45th, while the team ended up 17th out of the 22 teams taking part.

Stage seven results:

• (1, Daniel Moreno (Katusha), 2:59:37)
• 23, Egoi Martínez, 0:23
• 53, Jorge Azanza, 6:11
• 90, Samuel Sánchez, s.t.
• 101, Gorka Verdugo, 9:03
• 140, Peio Bilbao, 13:45
• 141, Mikel Landa, s.t.
• 149, Alan Pérez, 18:36

Final general classification:

• (1, Bradley Wiggins (Sky), 26:40:46)
• 45, Egoi Martínez, 19:43
• 67, Jorge Azanza, 31:05
• 83, Mikel Landa, 36:46
• 95, Gorka Verdugo, 44:13
• 126, Samuel Sánchez, 56:56
• 143, Peio Bilbao, 1:20:13
• 151, Alan Pérez, 1:31:10

Photo: www.cyclingnews.com

Dismal Dauphiné d-day

Yesterday's queen-stage in the Critérium du Dauphiné was an altogether unsuccessful one for Euskaltel. None of the riders managed to finish inside the top 50 on the 167km road from Saint-Alban-Leysse to Morzine.

Egoi Martínez did his part to ensure the team some visibility with another day in the main break - his third in this race alone and his second in two days. The big-size group he was a part of didn't manage to hold off the pack though, being reeled in on the early ramps of the massive Joux Plane. Sky set a ferocious pace on the climb, shredding the lead group, and none of the guys in orange were close to standing the pace. Jorge Azanza was the team's top finisher in a decent 57th, while top climber Mikel Landa stayed with Samu Sánchez to come in almost 14 minutes in arrears.

All in all an unsatisfactory day, and there's no hiding the form some of the riders are showing, or not showing to put it more accurately, is quite worrying with the Tour kick-off in Liège less than three weeks away.

Today's final stage takes the riders 126 clicks from yesterday's finish town to Châtel.

Stage six results:

• (1, Nairo Quintana (Movistar), 4:46:12)
• 57, Jorge Azanza, 8:13
• 71, Egoi Martínez, 10:36
• 110, Mikel Landa, 13:54
• 111, Samuel Sánchez, s.t.
• 135, Gorka Verdugo, 16:31
• 138, Peio Bilbao, s.t.
• 153, Alan Pérez, 25:33

García cracks wrist

Ricardo García's crash on the finishing strait of the Dauphiné's third stage has turned out to be more severe than what was initially assumed.

The 24-year-old has, tests in Zorrotzaurre have shown, suffered a small crack in his left wrist, the team's website reports. Upon concluding the stage, it was announced he'd have no problem in lining up at the start the following day, but it now turns out pulling out was probably a wise decision.

The injury is not likely to harm the Vitoria-Gasteiz-native's season all that much. The former Orbea rider, who's had a packed season up until this point, was scheduled to take some time off post-Dauphiné anyway.

Photo: www.fundacioneuskadi.com

G Izagirre top 20 in Suisse prologue

Euskaltel got of to a decent start in the Tour de Suisse today. Gorka Izagirre showed strength in the 7,3km prologue in Lugano, but the team's overall candidates were well in arrears.

Peter Sagan powered to a convincing win ahead of an, admittedly, below par Cancellara - the Swiss powerhouse is still easing his way back into competition after breaking his collarbone in Vlaanderen some months ago. Izagirre showed his Tour form is building up nicely with a 20th place, 25 seconds off the winning time. He ended up on the same time as Poels, Velits and Klöden, though, so he's got reason to feel content.

As for GC aspirants Astarloza, Nieve and Antón, it was an altogether different story. None of the three came within 40 seconds of Sagan's time and lost precious seconds to a number of general classification rivals.

Results (full results here):

• (1, Peter Sagan (Liquigas), 9:43
• 20, Gorka Izagirre, 0:25
• 59, Mikel Astarloza, 0:41
• 70, Mikel Nieve, 0:44
• 93, Igor Antón, 0:53
• 100, Pablo Urtasun, 0:55
• 106, Romain Sicard, 0:57
• 133, Rubén Pérez, 1:10
• 139, Iván Velasco, 1:13

Up tomorrow is a long day in the saddle - 218 clicks from Verbania to Verbier.

Martínez second in Dauphiné

Egoi Martínez grabbed a strong, if somewhat frustrating, second place in today's fifth stage of the Dauphiné.

The super domestique formed part of the day's decisive nine-man break on the 186,5km stage from Saint-Trivier-sur-Moignans to Rumilly, a break that was eventually given the chance to fight it out for the win as the likes of Wiggins, Evans and co. had enough of a battle on their hands for GC back in the peloton. Arthur Vichot made a bold solo move with some six clicks to go and impressively hung on quite easily to take the biggest win of his budding career. The guys left behind by the 23-year-old Frenchman were unable to cooperate and were duly left to sprint for second. Amazingly, Martínez, not know for his fast-twitch muscle fibres, beat his breakaway companions to the line to grab a solid results. A second place is nothing compared to a win in this sport, but at least a few WorldTour points went the team's way.

Talking post-race, the combative allrounder sounded pretty happy with his effort:

"The Tour preparations seem to be on track", he told www.fundacioneuskadi.com. "I've been working hard in training, and I'm glad to see that training paying off in the races. And I'm also happy about having been able to fight for the stage-win - I'm getting older, so to be in the mix is encouraging. We all like to come out tops, but it's hard in such big breaks like these. You don't get a lot of opportunities to like this, but to get them you've got to be in the breaks. If you're not, it's never going to happen. Therefore it's also important to value the effort".

If anything, Martínez's efforts in this race bodes well for the Tour de France in three weeks' time.

Another one on the up is Samuel Sánchez. The unfortunate 34-year-old stayed with the front group going over the Colombier and looked decent on the bike. In 21 days he'll be fine. Samu eventually let go off the group of favourites on the run-in, but Mikel Landa once again offered proof of his top shape by finishing 47th on the same time as Wiggins, Evans et al.

 Overall he's 49th, four places behind the team's top rider, Egoi Martínez.

Stage five results (click here for full results):

• (1, Arthur Vichot (FDJ), 4:42:17)
• 2, Egoi Martínez, 0:26
• 47, Mikel Landa, 0:59
• 60, Samuel Sánchez, 4:34
• 81, Jorge Azanza, 9:03
• 92, Peio Bilbao, 13:59
• 108, Gorka Verdugo, s.t.
• 147, Alan Pérez, 20:53

More TT agony in Dauphiné

Dauphiné's fourth stage, a 53km TT from Villié-Morgon to Bourg-en-Bresse, was another Euskaltel no show as the team's top man could only muster 69th on the day.

Samuel Sánchez naturally took it easy due to his fall on stage 1, cruising home in 112th place more than seven minutes in arrears. Ricardo García was forced to post a DNS as the injuries sustained in yesterday's crash proved too much to bear for the 24-year-old. It was initially suggested he'd have no problem carrying on, but the team's website says he woke up with an inflamed wrist that inhibited his movement to such an extent that riding a time trial would be impossible.

Gorka Verdugo was as anticipated the team's top man, but 69th at a full 5:38 was not up to his usual standard. Overall he's also the best in orange in 49th, 6:13 back on runaway-victor Bradley Wiggins. The Brit looks to be on course for a tremendous Tour - he'll take some beating.

Stage four results:

• (1, Bradley Wiggins (Sky), 1:03:12)
• 69, Gorka Verdugo, 5:38
• 95, Egoi Martínez, 6:44
• 112, Samuel Sánchez, 7:26
• 118, Jorge Azanza, 7:46
• 137, Mikel Landa, 8:54
• 148, Peio Bilbao, 9:50
• 162, Alan Pérez, 10:27

Photo: www.fundacioneuskadi.com