Management

EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI (EUS) - ESP

The Euskaltel-Euskadi team is more than just a cycling team; it is a culture, a way of supporting Basque cycling and promoting Basque culture.

The Euskaltel team was first created in 1994 and is now one of the longest standing teams in the professional peloton and the UCI ProTour.

Only riders born in the Basque Country region in northern Spain, or those who have lived there for a long time, can ride for the Euskaltel team, creating a special team spirit and pride for Basque cycling.

The team’s bright orange colours stand out in the peloton and Basque supporters also show their colours along the roadside in all the major races.

Beijing Olympic road race gold medallist Samuel Sanchez is not only the team leader, but also a rider who inspires the younger members of the team. He is both a talented one-day classic rider and major stage race contender and so fully justified his third place in the overall 2009 UCI World Ranking. The Basque fans went crazy as they cheered his aggressive riding at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. He finished in the top three on three stages and secured a third overall. A similar aggressive style meant he finished second overall in the Vuelta España and at the Giro di Lombardia classic at the end of the season.

Sanchez has made it clear he will target the Tour de France in 2010 but the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco and the Vuelta a España will also be key objectives for the team.

Watch out for Igor Anton, Francisco Armendia, Aitor Hernandez and Inaki Flores, all of whom are likely to shine. Meanwhile French Basque rider Romain Sicard has proved his talent by winning the Under 23 road race world title in Mendrisio having already won the Subida al Naranco professional race.