I would make sure there are a lot of races within the Iberian Peninsula, and my secondary priority would be South America. I think I'd do minimal races outside of those two regions, except I would want to attend all of the U23 races possible. It's good for the young riders to duke it out with the veterans, but it's also good to let them do some races on equal footing to get more results.
Amateur races? Are we really that bad? I'd say Basque Country first, followed by Spanish and Portuguese racing and, of course, anything in the French Basque Country, too, maybe more races in France, like the Classic Loire Atlantique or the Mont Blanc Tour. Keep it within driving distance, no money spent on plane tickets.
We could target the Vuelta a Burgos with Bizkarra and either of the earlier 2.HC races with Aberasturi, whichever course suits him more. But we cannot realistically expect any results in those races, so I'm not sure it's worth it. Maybe better to concentrate on the 2.1 Portugal Tour rather than the Burgos Tour?
Even if a Burgos skip is practical it has (the most on our calendar) Spanish eyes on it and those of many devoted cycling fans rooting to see some Euskatel progress. We need to be there in breaks and hopefully with Miguel doing well - I don't think we can afford a no-show there!
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
The last couple of days were spent on how to plan the first moths of the season, and now the plan is ready. After thinking back and fourth, the team will skip invitations both from one of the rare 2.1 opportunities at the Vuelta San Juan and of the Venezoelan Vuelta Tachira. Both of course to some costs, while both trips could've been very important to gather sponsors from overseas, it also may have been a statement for south american riders to join the squad if it grows for the future.
Instead, the team will go on a training camp to the island of Mallorca, where year after year a lot of the best teams in the world of cycling come together for their training camps. That ensures professional conditions to prepare for the season. The full squad has been taken to the race, meaning that some riders will rest at one of the four challenges, while some will rest on other days.
January Schedule:
Date
Cat.
Race
26.01
1.1
 Trofeo Porreres
27.1
1.1
 Trofeo Serra Tramuntana
28.1
1.1
 Trofeo Andratx
29.1
1.1
 Trofeo Palma
Anyway: The team will be led by Mikel Bizkarra and Jon Aberasturi. Mikel for the more challenging parts 2 and 3, while Aberasturi may be the go-to guy on the first and fourth race. Of course, with chances open to anybody to show the shirt in breaks on TV.
Jon Aberasturi
27
Sprinter
Leader
Mikel Bizkarra
27
Climber
Leader
Ricardo GarcÃa
28
Puncheur
Co-Leader
Jon Irisarri
21
Roleur
Free Role
Óscar PelegrÃ
22
Puncheur
Free Role
Jokin Etxabe
22
Climber
Free Role
Txomin Juaristi
21
Puncheur
Domestique
Jaume Sureda
20
Sprinter
Domestique
Fernando Barceló
20
Puncheur
Domestique
Your task:
Create a matchplan: For the four races there has to be a good plan of power management for leaders and domestiques. Set the squad, tactics and goals for the Kutxabank squad for the four races.
Also, plans for February are yet to be completed - and including those a tough decision. The squad will skip one of the two Spanish .HC race, the Vuelta a Andalucia, and instead take the invitation of the Volta ao Algarve. After the big spanish races at the beginning, Valenciana, there are two options.
Your choice:
Option A: Roadtrip South Go down the spanish coast from Valencia on via Murcia and Almeria to the famous Ruta del Sol. Show all the doubters what you've got on "home soil" and compete with the big names in Spain. Afterwards there would be the possibility to drive up north for the Ardeche and La Drome Classic, two further strong races where the team could show itself to international audience not far away from the team basement.
11.2
1.1
 Vuelta a Murcia
12.2
1.1
 Clasica de Almeria
15.02-19.02
2.HC
 Vuelta a AndalucÃa
25.2
1.1
 Classic sud Ardeche
26.2
1.1
 La Drome Classic
Option B: Portugal experience Raise your middlefinger to the spanish press that always doubted you and send the team to Portugal, where it could have vital experience on two strong stage races with TV coverage. Popularity in Spain will take a hit, but surely Portuguese and maybe even basque fans would appreciate the decision.
I'd like to see Jon A and Mikel focus on their two suited races, with the domestiques on rotation helping them and the free roles giving it their all to be in every move in every race, attacking until the end. Mikel can go in mid range moves with a chance at a result with Jon focusing on the sprint.
Torn in the option for our February calendar, but I say give Option B a go, let the watching world and Portugal know we're still here and attack for the KoM in both.
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
We keep the South American strategy in hand for the future, for the new humble beginnings this looks fine.
Porreres: Difficult to judge. Bizkarra and Etxabe rest. A punchy domestique should try to join the early escape group, just in case it becomes a runaway break on this difficult course. The rest should protect the leader and hoping Abe has some HIL in him make the race hard in the final third to make weaker sprinters suffer, hopefully drop some
Serra: Rest for Abe and Irisarri. Set a high pace going into the large climb and then ease of a little. But keep on pushing up the Cuber. If top riders attack, Biz will have to follow, there's a long descent to catch you breath again. If it's still a large group on the descent I hope Garcia is in it and he'd be a card to play in the finale.
Andratx: Rest for Abe and Sureda. Up the Cuber from the other side, nice climb, but still a long way to the finish line. Probably all about going into the last short climb as fresh as possible. Should the speed of the (rather large?) group slow down too much in the flat part maybe Pelegri could surprise with an attack 15 to 20 km out.
Palma: Rest for Biz and Etxabe. This is the most straightforward course. If other teams look knackered after a long chase Irisarri could attempt a late attack and hope to solo to the finish, otherwise use our best tactics for a mass sprint.
It's finally time to start off the 2017 season. For the first races on Mallorca Directeur Sportive Ripley set up the squad.
January Schedule:
Date
Cat.
Race
26.1
1.1
 Trofeo Porreres
27.1
1.1
 Trofeo Serra Tramuntana
28.1
1.1
 Trofeo Andratx
29.1
1.1
 Trofeo Palma
The Mallorca squad contained of our full squad, as we used that opportunity for a training camp as well. Different riders were riding different races, but everybody got their move to attend. While climbers Etxabe and Bizkarra went on to enjoy some rest on the sprinters days, it was Aberasturi with Irisarri and Sureda sitting out on the climbers days. Show everything you've got on the first race they say.
Jon Aberasturi
27
Sprinter
Leader
Mikel Bizkarra
27
Climber
Leader
Ricardo GarcÃa
28
Puncheur
Co-Leader
Jon Irisarri
21
Roleur
Free Role
Óscar PelegrÃ
22
Puncheur
Free Role
Jokin Etxabe
22
Climber
Free Role
Txomin Juaristi
21
Puncheur
Domestique
Jaume Sureda
20
Sprinter
Domestique
Fernando Barceló
20
Puncheur
Domestique
Speaking about showing what we've got, it was also the first time to show the shirt that has been designed for the kutxabank squad. All credit to scatmaster, who had created this masterpiece for the team. Everything set to shine!
26.01 1.1 Â Trofeo Porreres
Trofeo Porreres had faced some high pace start, as several teams wanted to show their shirts in the break from scratch. In fact, it would take almost 35 kilometers, until a break of the day was allowed, shortly behind the steep climb. Until then we already had lost 3 men: Barcelo, Sureda and early escape planned Juaristi. However, it was Ricardo Garcia who managed to join the ultimate break of seven that got away.With him Xavier Canellas (ESP), Gaspar Mas (NIC), Jaime Roson (CAJ), Javier Megias Leal (NOV), Igor Boev (GAZ) and Michael Golas (SKY).
The group could stream away for an advantage of around 3:20, but it was Lotto-Soudal setting a tough pace in the chase. Most of the killing though was done by Movistar, that lit up the pace in the punchy middle part for their Armada of strongmen. They quickly formed an alliance with Sky that significantly thinned out the pack while also cutting out notable sprinters like Matteo Pelucchi (BOH), Dan McLay (FOO) and Jonas Vangenechten (COF). Jon Aberasturi however managed to stay alive with just Jon Irisarri left by his side however.
At Kilometer 130 the group was only a minute ahead, when from the pack Castroviejo (MOV) and Geoghegan Hart (SKY) attempted to bridge over to the front, making the junction shortly after the climb. Meanwhile Mas had fallen out of the front group already. The 8 of them did a good job at fighting against the pack that had mostly seen Lotto-Soudal pulling for Andre Greipel, but also Bora-Hansgrohe and Burgos-BH pulling some turns.
With 8 kilometers to go it was day done for most of the group, just Castroviejo, Golas and Hart survived. The trio of Movistar and Sky couldn't defend their advantage, instead it was Jan Barta (BOH) and Pieter Weening (RNL) trying one last move. They couldn't hang on however, as Tim Wellens took a decicive turn on the front.
It was Jurgen Roelandts that led out the sprint for Andre Greipel, with everybody trying to get into his wheel. Without much help Jon Aberasturi couldn't find himself too well positioned, being a couple of riders down the rank. Greipel took it up from the front, able to celebrate a dominant win ahead of Dylan Page (CAJ) and his leadout man Jurgen Roelandts. Erik Baska came in fourth ahead of Russian sprinter Roman Maikin (GAZ). Then it was quite close, but Pablo Torres (BBH) could fight of Maxime Daniel (FOO)l and Albert Torres (INT), on whose wheel Jon Aberasturi managed to come in for a solid 9th. A really good starting result, just ahead of Jonathan Dibben, first of the Sky riders. Beating Sky and Movistar in the first race is something rather nice for the squad! Irisarri finished at a nice 26th too.
27.1 1.1 Â Trofeo Serra Tramuntana
Trofeo Serra, surpassing the Collet Alt de Cuber as main difficulty, stood under totally different circumstances. We didn't have our Sprinters here, as it should've been one for our climbers. And despite Aberasturis pattern of being a strong climber, it didn't seem like he'd stand a chance here, hence the captain role was at Bizkarra.
The race this time wasn't very fast at the beginning, finding Txomin Juaristi in the break of the day alongside 4 other breakaway companions: Miralles (AMO), Garcia (BOL), Hennessy (GBR) and Gonzalez (EUS). Lateron a group including Lozano (NOV), Jurado (BBH) and Tschernoster (GER) managed to join the quintett. With a maximum of 5 minutes the group went clear of the pack that was led by Movistar. Almost all te work has been on them, but they easily ate into the advantage on the Coll d'Honor already. After the long day in the office yesterday it was only the fresh Etxabe and Bizkarra that could stay in the pack after Dayer Quintana and Sutherland dictated the pace here, soon seeing Bizkarra on his own. Going into the Murtas Amador shrinked down the pack significantly again, this time also breaking Bizkarra here.
He found himself grouping up with the likes of Sergey Lagutin (GAZ), Oscar Riesebeek (RNL) and David Arroyo (CAJ) in the back. At the front it was Nairo Quintana (MOV) that hat shred the race into pieces on the Cuber, creating a 4 man group fighting for the win, which Valverde (MOV) took ahead of Wellens (LTS) and Majka (BOH) with the Colombian in 4th. Weening (RNL), Amador (MOV), Bravo (EUS), Konrad (BOH), Benoot (LTS) and Firsanov (GAZ) would finish the Top10, while Bizkarra came in as our only notable rider in 26th.
28.1 1.1 Â Trofeo Andratx
The similar Trofeo Andratx, also starring the Cuber, has seen a tough race from the beginning. We indeed managed to fill the breakaway group of 8 riders, all with a spanish passport, this time with Ion Irisarri. Tthis group wouldn't sustain for more than 40 kilometers though, as Lotto-Soudal ripped the race apart on the coastal roads in the wind. That's why when Irisarri at 50km into the race searched for his leader Bizkarra he couldn't find him, as he was far down the ladder without a chance to come back blown apart by the wind.
In fact, Irisarri was our only rider in the pack at this point. He managed to stay there until the Coll de sa Bastida, from where on he fought for minor places. At the end of the day his 34th place was our best result. The race at the front was won by Valverde, who again crushed Wellens hopes on the final kilometer. The race saw Weening on the podium, with the best spanish non-Movistar riders being Prades (8th) and Bravo (9th).
29.1 1.1 Â Trofeo Palma
Finally a flat race again. With Garcia going strong, he managed to join the breakaway again right after the start in at the Palma beach. Together with Teruel (ESP), Liß (GER), Garcia (INT), Gioux (TNN) and Varbourzeix (NIC) the group got away, establishing a 6 minute-advantage. It was again Lotto with the help of Fortuneo, Bora and Cofidis to join them. A little bit of wind and the hill in the middle, in which Movistar pushed the pace with Dani Moreno, indeed cut the advantage down quite rapidly and selected the race a little.
With 14 Kilomters to go it was Salvatore Puccio to initiate a late move, joined by Pedrero (MOV), Vorobyev (GAZ) and our man Irisarri. And while this put pressure on the pack, it wouldn't make them miss out as they made the junction with 4 to go. Cofidis (van Stayen, Vangenechten and Soupe leading out Bouhanni) and Bora (Burghardt, Baska and Schwarzmann to lead out Pelucchi) fought for the best train today. But at the end it was Jurgen Roelandts again storming to the front surpassing Soupe to lead out Greipel perfectly. The Gorilla did what he does best and also took this classic, this time from Matteo Pelucchi and Nacer Bouhanni.
Aberasturi fought on his own again in the finale, but this time took some good decision to the wheels of Roompot, that did a good job in launching Coen Vermeltfoort. Behind McLay (FOO) and Euskaltel alumni Enrique Sanz (ESP), he pipped him to the line for 6th. Behind it was Wisniowski (SKY), Porsev (GAZ) and Verschoor (TNN) following for the Top10.
What's next?
Option B: Portugal experience Raise your middlefinger to the spanish press that always doubted you and send the team to Portugal, where it could have vital experience on two strong stage races with TV coverage. Popularity in Spain will take a hit, but surely Portuguese and maybe even basque fans would appreciate the decision.
15.02-19.02
2.HC
 Volta ao Algarve
22.02-26.02
2.1
 Volta ao Alentejo
Next up is another training camp in the Algarve region, from where we'll take on the two bigger Portuguese races. We'll take over the full team again to Portugal, but who should represent us on which race? Also which are our goals for both races, do we have any specific tactics for the race? Attacking the KOM has been stated already as a goal, do we have other ambitions to achieve? You decide!
I guess going for the KoM's - will be a good goal but is it unrealistic to aim for a GC result in Volta ao Alentejo ?
Edited by Tamijo on 18-03-2019 22:18
Kutxabank > Sky & Movistar
Thats all that the team has to take from their first race.
Lovely jersey. Color certainly reminds of a certain former team sponsor. The stripes on the front look a lot like they could be the base of a NC design. Too bad that you wont have too many of those if you stick to the current team identity (which I'd hope with a project like this)
Spoiler
Wait, let me correct this:
Only few NC opportunities
Nice jersey, nice results. Represented in every breakaway, great top 10 results from Aberasturi. Bizkarra will hopefully get better chances soon.
I'd say the best possible team for the 2.HC race. Abe can target stages 1 and 4. For the KOM, the final stage will probably be decisive. Bizkarra should see how well he does on stage 2, unless he does really well he can take it easy in the ITT and join the breakaway himself on the final stage.
Does anybody need a break? I'd like to see Aberasturi again in Alentejo, it's probably less suited for Bizkarra.
Very happy I finally took some time to pick this story up again...
Aberasturi did great to make the top 10 twice on Mallorca, whereas Bizkarra was always going to struggle with so many top riders starting their season there too.
For the upcoming races in Portugal, I'd suggest going for KoM jersey in the Algarve (all will have to fall in its place to land a stage) and targeting the GC in Alentejo.
I'd say Basque Country first, followed by Spanish and Portuguese racing and, of course, anything in the French Basque Country, too, maybe more races in France, like the Classic Loire Atlantique or the Mont Blanc Tour. Keep it within driving distance, no money spent on plane tickets. 
