emre99's stages Thread of the Week : Tour of California 2014 -Official PCM World Cup 2016, 10th best keirin player in the world PCM.daily Awards : 2 Nominee 0 Award
Daily Song Contest WINNER! With Foals - Mountain at my Gates with Greece! 1 like 1 girlfriend ''I call you the stage god. You are the stage god.'' -baseballover312, 15.07.2016
After the short break the moderator asks the audience to ask for some names to talk about, more specificly riders that might be signed. A bunch of experts in the crowd are giving some possible names, which the crew talks about now.
First of we have a danish journalist here around. He's asking for the Izagirre brothers, Omar Fraile and Amets Txurruka.
Samu: Intersting. I can tell you that we were in talks with all 4 of your mentioned guys. With Amets I still have a special relationship. Pretty early it was clear that this project won't go without Amets. And you know, we've lately seen that he has the needed power left in his legs to be a valuable rider.
Ion Izagirre might be the best 1-week stage racer the Basque Country has seen lately. Sadly for us we are not the only one recognizing that. Movistar made it clear that they wouldn't let Izagirre go in any ways, so he will ride his next season with Movistar. They were more open to talks about his brother Gorka, but he decided to stay with his younger brother at big M. So leave some complaints at Eusebio for not seing the couple in the colours they belong in.
To Mr.Fraile Igor can tell you the story...
Anton: Yeah I talked to him a couple of times before this project even started, and that was because we both had offers from Dimension Data on our table. For him it was clear that he wanted to promote to World Tour for 2016, especially after his recent Caja Rural success. We were pretty sure to go there, and then Samu came. At the end of the story I managed to pass the hype I had for this project to him, and now we can happily announce that Fraile rides for Euskaltel in 2016.
Following there is a raised arm by a turkish journalist, asking for the chances of signing Benat Intxausti.
Nieve: What we can confirm is that Benat will leave Movistar. Sky has made an enormous offer for him, which we can't match even nearly. What we could offer him though is a big role, and he told us that that nearly equals the paycheck he would get at Sky. After a long round of talks we finally raised our limits a little and made sure that Intxausti will be back with Euskaltel.
Journalists from all over the worl made it to Vitoria Gasteiz. A man from India throws up the names of Bilbao, Lobato and Luis Leon Sanchez.
Samu: Before starting this project we decided not to talk to Caja Rural and Euskadi guys if they are under contract. We only started to take action if the rider already confirmed to leave that team or asks himself to take part in our project. Bilbao did the latest days after the first rumours came in and contacted me, so we talked about a contract. Very cleanly and without complecations he signed a multi-year contract.
Talking about Luis Leon Sanchez I can confirm you that we hadn't had any interest in signing him. He is a fantastic cyclist, but our ethical guidelines restrict us from signing him, and we are not unhappy with that.
JJ Lobato could become an interesting case. He is under contract with Movistar for 2016. But he is not too happy there, and we could give him more freedom. The fact that he rode for Euskaltel in our last year makes him even more interesting. He might sign a contract with us very late, but Unzue has to give it a go. So the decision lays neither in our, nor in JJs hands.
Final words, coming from a british journalist. Of course he wants to know if the basque of Team Sky, David Lopez Garcia, would join back Euskaltel. He additionally asks for Barbero, Castroviejo and Arroyo.
Nieve: Yes, I can confirm you that David will come with me. He is one of the most reliable guys in the peloton and my friend. Luckily Sky did coorperate very well in terms of his contract, so that he could swap jerseys despite initially having a 2016 Sky contract. We won't forget that fair gestique.
Samu: Barbero is under contract with Caja Rural. We didn't negotiate with him, although I can say that he is a very interesting prospect for the future. Jonathan Castroviejo preferred to stay at Movistar, especially to stay with his current equipment and also earning more money there. Arroyo didn't really raised our interest to be honest. Knowing him well he also wants to keep his freedom, which he'll do better at Caja Rural.
We would like to thank the audience for all their active participation on the press conference. We'll release further statements with more iinformation on the roster over the upcoming weeks.
The press conference ends, and the room empties out. Tough days ahead for the 3 main protagonists to sign some more contracts.
Iban Mayo Zubeldia, Irizar - Gotta get them golden oldies. Loving it so far.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
After having some riders announced already on the press conference in december, Samu returns to the sports hall in Vitoria Gasteiz for announcing further riders.
Samu: With great pleasure we can announce that most of the squad stands now and several contracts are signed. You might have heard some rumours over the last days. Some might have been wrong, some might have been right, now it's time to clear up most of the questions.
You guys were also talking about foreigners, I can tell you that this won't happen. Our sponsors and also the team want to recreate the special identity the team we are looking to live up again in a similar way had. Also we won't talk with already retired riders. There was one exception: I was talking with my old friend Igor Astarloza. But we also talked about a subject of the darker sides of his career, doping, and that lead to our conclusion that we won't sign him Not only for presenting our strict thoughts on doping, but also to prevent our younger guys from taking the wrong examples. Astarloza is clearly one of the best when it comes to mental worth, domestique power and loyality, but some things in cycling are unforgiveable.
But if you want some old guys you get some old guys. Both Haimar Zubeldia and Markel Irizar will join back from Trek Factory Racing Cycling. The basque guys, both capable of strong engine racing and domestique duties, were fire and flames for this project as soon as it stood there. Welcome home grandpas!
Haimar Zubeldia will strengthen our wide squad of climbers, being useful on every terrain but best in the high mountains. There we have another Basque signing to announce in Victor de la Parte. He had a fantastic year with Team Vorarlberg last season, including his storm on the Tour of Austria, and will surely be a useful climber in his WT debut. He might even bring some upside potential of developement with him despite his age looking like he could be a late kickstarter. Further additions to our climbing squad will be local hero Arkaitz Duran. He offfers also some power on hilly terrain. Duran signs for one year and is coming over from the portuguese CT team Efapel.
From the asian team Kinan Cycling Ricardo Garcia will join us. The puncheur rode at Euskaltel - Euskadi some years ago already, and since then took several great results in lower races. We feel like he deserves another chance on the highest level. Also from Asia Jon Aberasturi will join our squad. After splitting ways with Euskadi he finished his studies, now he wanted to join the cycling calendar back with japanese team UKYO. Luckily we literally called him at Bilbao airport to offer him a place in our team. So he came back from Japan without signing a contract but instead with a vocal agrrement about using his still lightening fast speed in orange colours. Soon the sprinter, who lately added some versatility terrainwise, signed a contract here in Vitoria Gasteiz with us.
Finally we can announce to signings from french teams. The first one is Egoitz Garcia. After long years in the Cofidis squad he stepped back to CT to Murias Taldea, so he's only half of a french signing, but still his name is present there. He will be one of our strongest riders on flat roads. He will ride in orange as well as Romain Sicard. The french climber from the basque country will get his oppurtunities in free roles on climbing races and surely ride the Tour de France for us. We hope that he can finally fulfill the massive potential we know that still sleeps in him.
That makes it a total of 16 riders signed. Not enough for a WT team of course, so you'll get some more names sooner than later. We need to do a small break as it looks that there is just an important call on the line. I'll leave it here for you with our current roster for 2016.
Samuel Sanchez
37
Captain
Mikel Nieve
31
Captain
Igor Anton
32
Captain
Benat Intxausti
29
Captain
Haimar Zubeldia
38
Lieutenant
David Lopez
34
Lieutenant
Amets Txurruka
33
Lieutenant
Omar Fraile
25
Super-Domestique
Pello Bilbao
25
Super-Domestique
Victor de la Parte
29
Super-Domestique
Romain Sicard
27
Super-Domestique
Markel Irizar
35
Domestique
Egoitz Garcia
29
Domestique
Jon Aberasturi
26
Domestique
Arkaitz Duran
29
Domestique
Ricardo Garcia
27
Domestique
With this announcements the first part of the squad finalization is over. Will there be a final bang in the second part? Let's find out soon...
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Samu returns from the call he had to answer. You might see a little smile on his face as he enters the podium again.
Samu: Now I have some interesting minutes lying behind me, and now I can finally say that we finally managed to come to an agreement about a rider just happening. He'll be here in around in hour to sign his contract directly on this podium. But you'll see when he's here, now let's move on with some further additions.
You might have noticed that our squad is pretty...wise. No, actually we're hopelessly too old to give this the identity we want, and therefore we'll present the following signings:
From Seguros Bilbao the trio of Oscar Pelegri, Jaume Sureda and Jokin Etxabe sigend contracts with our team. The basque trio will do some helping duties at first, and we know that they'll have a long way to go until reaching the required level for professionals. We are willing to give this trio the time they need though. Out of these Oscar Pelegri is by far the guy who has the most strength to offer right now, but both Sureda and Etxabe have some promisses to offer for the future.
The former Euskadi stagiare Jon Irisarri will join the team as well for 2016. After having some great results in the Amateur scene it was about time to step up to professional cycling for the Basque, and he'll do that by signing with us.
Out of newly rising U23 and Junior Team Fundacion Contador - Polartec also 2 riders found their way into our squad. The cantabrian Fran Perez and the catalan Fernando Barcelo will strengthen our climbing talents departement. Both of these have use the special chances to ride under the hands of Bertie the last couple of years, and they showed some shining upside potential. Especially their bike handling skills gave them a special touch, cheers to their mountain-bike training methods at Contador's very own "La Masia".
Finally we found a guy we trust in at the amateur squad Team Aldro. Miguel Fernandez will get the chance of showing his talent at our team in the season of 2016. The cantabrian also feels most comfortable in the high mountains, but had very decent overall performances in last seasons U23 tours here in spain.
Iker Azkarate is still in talks with us, but the basque guy hasn't decided yet whether to choose a stagiare contract with Caja Rural or a contract with our team.
One guy though will come from slightly higher level. We are talking about Julen Amezqueta, who had a stagiare contract with Southeast last season. We could convince the rather pucnhy climbing talent to sign a contract with us though instead of choosing the italian PCT circuits. In our eyes he has the potential to become spains next big thing, so the guy from the Navarra will join us for nothing less than 3 years.
Now that most of the squad is filled we'll wait for the final announcements of the squad.
Samuel Sanchez
37
Captain
Mikel Nieve
31
Captain
Igor Anton
32
Captain
Benat Intxausti
29
Captain
Haimar Zubeldia
38
Lieutenant
David Lopez
34
Lieutenant
Amets Txurruka
33
Lieutenant
Omar Fraile
25
Super-Domestique
Pello Bilbao
25
Super-Domestique
Victor de la Parte
29
Super-Domestique
Romain Sicard
27
Super-Domestique
Markel Irizar
35
Domestique
Egoitz Garcia
29
Domestique
Jon Aberasturi
26
Domestique
Arkaitz Duran
29
Domestique
Ricardo Garcia
27
Domestique
Julen Amezqueta
22
Promising Talent
Jon Irisarri
20
Promising Talent
Oscar Pelegri
21
Talent
Jokin Etxabe
21
Talent
Jaume Sureda
19
Talent
Fran Perez
19
Talent
Fernando Barcelo
19
Talent
Miguel Fernandez
18
Talent
Samu again takes a break in the backdoor rooms. The small crowd of journalists is rumouring, and you might have noticed a slight rise in the number of these. It seems like some local newspapers already know something...
Time flies past and almost half an hour was gone as Samu re-enters the hall. Tension is filling the air as some nervous sounds make their way through the bunch of reporters, when Samu comes close to the mike again.
Samu: So there we are back again. But I'm not alone. With me I have a very important piece of paper, and I even brought a guest with me.
We have long talks with Mikel Landa, who really liked our project. At the end of the day he was about money though. And payments are not the strengths we can offer, but Sky can. So yeah, he chose money over leadership. Something we have to accept in theses days.
Then there is Imanol Erviti. He could've been a very valuable classics guy and have gotten any lead on flat races he wants. A shame that Movistar offered him the same, and being a very loyal guy he couldn't take that offer down. So yep, no Navarran classics leader at Euskaltel.
Why don't aim then at lower fishes. Enrique Sanz rode for Euskadi for a couple of years and thus had a special connection to our project already. Like this it should've been easy to convince him of joining us? No. We almost agreed on a contract, but then bloody Eusebio tackled inside. And uncle Eusebio loves to take keep a familiar style in his time, so he didn't let his relevant go offering a much bigger contract than we did. At the end of the story Sanz came to the conclusion not to sign with us, but within these negotiations something else happened.
Kind of as a compensation Mr.Unzue finally agreed on freeing a guy we wanted from the first second of the project on, even despite the fact that he is not a true Basconian. He rode for the former team in the last year of it's existence, and therefore already has kind of a relationship to the Pais Vasco and most of our riders. We saw in him a team-mate with great potential once, and now we see a strong leader in him.
Please welcome Juan Jose Lobato!
With this final signing we close out our squad for this 2016 season.
Samuel Sanchez
37
Captain
Mikel Nieve
31
Captain
Igor Anton
32
Captain
Benat Intxausti
29
Captain
Juan Jose Lobato
27
Captain
Haimar Zubeldia
38
Lieutenant
David Lopez
34
Lieutenant
Amets Txurruka
33
Lieutenant
Omar Fraile
25
Super-Domestique
Pello Bilbao
25
Super-Domestique
Victor de la Parte
29
Super-Domestique
Romain Sicard
27
Super-Domestique
Markel Irizar
35
Domestique
Egoitz Garcia
29
Domestique
Jon Aberasturi
26
Domestique
Arkaitz Duran
29
Domestique
Ricardo Garcia
27
Domestique
Julen Amezqueta
22
Promising Talent
Jon Irisarri
20
Promising Talent
Oscar Pelegri
21
Talent
Jokin Etxabe
21
Talent
Jaume Sureda
19
Talent
Fran Perez
19
Talent
Fernando Barcelo
19
Talent
Miguel Fernandez
18
Talent
Well, one transfer I haven't announced yet. You remember the reports from the end of 2012. We had to do everything to continue racing. Even our team bus needed to be sold. But here also we have reached a big peasure to myself. Let's also welcome somebody I've missed for too long, and who feels so right to be back with us. Something, with that we finally want to leave the dark year of 2013 behind us. Something to cover the pain we recieved for loosing it back then. Please welcome with a storm of cheers our new old team bus:
The team bus finds his parking spot directly at the entrance of this place in Vitoria Gasteiz. Out of it the whole 2016 team of Euskaltel comes out in the beautiful outfit for the season designed by the_hoyle. They find themselves together with Sammy and JJ for the official team photo.
All stuffed with in the big orange busses Team Euskaltel headed their way onto the south of Spain, for preparing the season in a training camp. Starting the first lunch all together Samu stands up and give a small "speech" to his mates.
Samu: First of all I'm very proud to see all the 25 facse of yours here together. Well, 25 because I don't count myself in talking to you. We have a new late signing to announce you here, and that is our regional guy Jonathan Lastra from Bilbao. Jonathan was in talks with Caja Rural as well, but being a Basque by heart we luckily could convince him to sign with us. Please give him a warm welcome at our team!
We are now 26 guys, and we will live the dream of every cyclist. Riding the prime races, basically the races we want. Not every one can go to every race of course. But it's a personal task I've given to me that every guy here at Euskaltel will have the chance to race against the best of the best. And our demand to you is that in return you will reward our hard work to give you these abilities.
Not primarily in terms of results, but also in terms of racing behaviour. Our colours are associated with attacks. Our colours are accociated with fans. Our colours are associated with resistance. We would highly appreciate if you guys will respect our values. In first line it's fighting until you are not able to go anymore. In second line it's also instinctive racing, coorperative and collaborative behaviour, respectful riding in the peloton and taking care of both friends and enemies. Over all we have a 0 tolerance border. No doping, but also no additional things. There is a small number of guys that have a clean paper when the WADA gives you a form where to write down all the medicaments, painkillers and other supplements you take. No tramadol. Moreover we will be part of the MPCC, I hope you all know what that means.
Coming back on the training camp here. It's mostly to get used to each other. For many of our young guns it's training on that format, so they are here for recieving experiences. The established guys have different plans. Beneath our focus on chemistry here it's also about building up some form. Firstly the classics guys of course, but then we also want to compete in San Luis and Down Under right at the beginning, so there is not much time left, as soon some of you guys head over there. What's completely missing at the moment is a leadout for JJ, we will work on that especially with Markel, Egoitz and both Jons over the next days. They surely have some seperated training plans from the other guys that will mostly ride up and down here.
We know that our infrastructure is not outstanding yet. You might have wondered why we are here near to JJs home town staying with our busses and not in Mallorca like many other teams. In the World Tour Circuit you'll see teams that have much better conditions for their riders. But from my long time with Euskaltel I learned one thing. What looks like a disadvantage can always be turned into something positives. You'll neither see us testing with oval chainrings nor carry our very own luxury camp to Le Tour, cause we don't have the abilities for that. But what you can learn, and that's how real life works as well, that rougher conditions can make you stronger. They can create a spirit, which makes it easier to work for each other guy with 110% of your abilities. Our value back then also lied in the fact that every guy would've burned himself out for his teammate. Are you willing to do the same? Then you are exactly right here! Have a nice meal my friends...
In the following I will introduce another point of view in this story. It's the Basque Cycling News, also known as Iban Mayo Blog.
The blog existed since 2006, where rumours about Iban Mayo were the first motivation for starting it. Then there were several years of growing for the website, proportional to the success of Euskaltel-Euskadi. When the team finally folded in 2013, the blog also went on hold with the following words: "With Euskaltel Euskadi folding and Equipo Euskadi looking ever likelier to follow suit, it's time this website it put to rest." Projecting the decline of cycling in spain and especially the Basque Country we'll quote two extracts from their farewell post here:
The biggest problem concerns the lack of interest in the sport and the sad state of the cantera. The number of teams - and the possibilities for young hopefuls to make a living of riding their bikes with it - have been diminishing for the better part of a decade now, and the Basque junior and amateur scene, once the envy of the cycling world, is not what it once was.
That's not to say Basque cycling is dying. Far from it. [...] In time, the sport will get back on its feet. The history, the traditions, the talent and - cheeky as it may sound - the love for a life on two wheels is still there. Those are qualities built up over numerous of decades and thus, almost by nature, impossible to lose just like that. In cycling terminology, the wheels haven't come off Basque cycling. It's merely flatted.
Now that the CT team survived and Euskaltel is back the founders have re-started the site. We will constantly hear the news of cycling, especially the ones involving Team Euskaltel team, here! Let's get right up to the first post of the "Basque Cycling News since more than two years!
We are back! 13th of January, 2016
Hello again! This is Magnus from Basque Cycling News, the #1 website for news on our guys in orange (and white-green-red)!
First of all eskerrik asko to all of you guys that made it back here. It has been a long time since I've posted here the last time, now we are back to open the gates for the love on Basque Cycling.
The team we support has changed a lot since then. Take a look at the guys of the last team photo I've posted here.
Now the faces have changed but the spirit stays the same, and that's why we support it. I hope many of you old friends as well as new faces found their way to support this site and with that together the Euskaltel Team. Would be kind of a similarity to them, wouldn't it?
Anyway, I've always said that this is on hold and not over, and now I'm glad to show you that I've meant that by heart, even if my belief wasn't always on 100%. Who else also can't wait to see Samu, Igor, Mikel, JJ and the other boys racing. I try to show you some shots throughout the next couple of days if I find them on the road training.
Today it's time to introduce the next piece of our story puzzle, the spanish cycling website "ciclo21". By the time there will be some interviews there with guests from cycling and also from Euskaltel Team, sometimes also form other persons talking about cycling. The most interesting statements will be brought here for you.
Today's guest: Luca Guercilena January 16th, 2016
Reporter: Welcome to ciclo 21. Today we'll have an interview with Luca Guercilena of the Team Trek-Segafredo.
What are your expections on this season for Trek? Surely you'll want to give Cancellara a very nice farewell season, but what else is on your mind?
Luca: Yes of course, Fabian is our priority #1. Buth there are many good riders in our team to trust in as well: Mollema is always capable to get a Top 5 in a GT, Nizzolo just needs that one big win and then they'll come fluently, Hesjedal will try to repeat his Giro success and then we have a lot of young guys in the second row that have to step up without Spartacus next season and should learn from him this season. I'm talking about Niccolo, Jasper, Edward and Fabio.
But talking about the overall standings I'm not too optimistic. We had quite some restructuring this season, which will continue next season of course. Especially the loss of van Poppel and also Jungels will hurt us points-wise.
Reporter: You sound like a man with mixed feelings. Are you 100% happy with how restructuring went for you?
Luca: Well, to be honest I am really mad at how things went with van Poppel and Jungels. We invested a lot of money in these guys, and they pay us back by leaving when they become strong. On top goes the fact that both Dave and Patrick are known for their dirty tactics on the transfer market, and they didn't proof us wrong. But getting especially Eddy and Niccolo in exchange shouldn't be too much of a quality loss for us. Ryder on top is fantastic, cause he will more than make up for the late losses of Haimar and Markel. Both came to us pretty late with the wish to go to Euskaltel, but I guess that's the hard way the basque always have to go with their finances.
Reporter: Talking about the Basque, what do you think of the project given the fact that it's the first time current riders build up a World Tour team from scratch?
Luca: It's a very interesting one. I like what they do, especially the heart that lays behind this project from the trio. They managed to create a hype over the Basque Country and even look as they have stable short term finances. Though losing riders, I can't say that I dislike to have the team in orange back. Despite the one thing...
Reporter: What do you mean by that?
Luca: Look, they have a team of veterans. But is that enough for World Tour status? In my eyes it isn't. Especially cause the UCI relegated IAM Cycling for this case. I've talked to Michael Thetaz (DS of IAM, redactional), and he is still furious. He told me that his sponsors are highly disappointed and will most likely pull out of the sport after this season. And IAM is not worse than Team Euskaltel. Some riders that were strong in 2010 and second row leaders like Intxausti or Lobato doesn't make a WT worthy team. Lobato doesn't even have a proper leadout for smaller races. In my eyes, and I'm not the only one, Euskaltel Team should've been a PCT team and not taking the WT spot of IAM. But still, I like to see them alive.
Reporter: The final question: What do you think will be the oucome for spanish cycling? Stopping the regression of quality riders, that sees Contador, Purito and Valverde pulling out as the last big spanish superstars for a time? Or might this project be a game changer in terms of this?
Luca: Spanish cycling seems like dying a slow death. When JRod is out and Valle is gone there is no superstar left. Luckily Valverde is the most invincible guy I've ever seen and will cause frenetic masses until the 20's, trust me. But who comes after these. Sammy will go, Purito will go this season, Anton couldn't live up to it, Haimar will go. Contador won't win a GT anymore. Hell even Dani Moreno and LuLu will go. But who comes then? There is a horrible demography of stars in spanish cycling. The likes of Izagirre, Castroviejo, Intxausti, Herrada and Valls have to step up their game, but I doubt that they'll become great riders. The young guns like Verona, Fernandez, Soler and Barbero might be able to get some WT success, but neither of these has the potential to be a superstar. The only guy on the horizon is Landa that can manage to be the next big thing.
And for the deeper future, it looks even worse! I hardly see a Spaniard competing for the Top50 in Junior Races. Look at the "talents" Sammy signed. Hell they are maximum on CT level. But that is what the real problem is in Spanish cycling. They lack the teams where young cyclists could prepare theirselves for the big ones. Where are Andalucia and the other medium-strong lower level teams? Caja Rural is the only team outside the big oneandahalf that is not laughable. The only shining star here is the Fundacion Contador, but even that has to go a long way of experiences until having a good structure for developing world-class talents.
Reporter: Thank you for your time Luca! It has been a very interesting discussion. I'd love to have another talk to you when the season is on their way.
I agree with Luca, but let's hope the Euskadi boys can prove him wrong and earn that spot
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
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