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Euskal Bizikleta - 2.HC
Spain, May 31-June 4, 2006
2005 results Stage List Preview Start List Past winners
The Stages
- Stage 1 - May 31: Eibar - Arrigorriaga, 165.5 km
- Stage 2 - June 1: Arrigorriaga - Ispaster, 174 km
- Stage 3 - June 2: Ispaster - Gatzaga, 190.9 km
- Stage 4a - June 3: Leintz Gatzaga - Agurain, 84.1 km
- Stage 4b - June 3: Agurain - Agurain ITT, 21.2 km
- Stage 5 - June 4: ETB (Iurreta) - Arrate (Eibar), 157.5 km
Sáiz's team to ride Euskal Bizikleta in white
By Antonio J. Salmerón
Manolo Sáiz's Würth team - formerly known as Liberty-Seguros-Würth - will wear white team strip for the Euskal Bizikleta stage race, which starts today. Joseba Beloki will lead the troubled squad, which lost its main sponsor last week after Sáiz was arrested in the Spanish 'Operation Puerto' doping investigation.
The three other Spanish ProTour teams, Illes Balears-Caisse, Saunier Duval-Prodir and Euskaltel Euskadi will also start the Euskal Bizikleta, along with the full complement of Spanish Professional Continental teams: 3 Molinos Resort Murcia Turística, Relax-Gam, and Andalucia Paul Versan, plus the Nicolás Mateos, Orbea, and Spiuk continental teams.
However, the Nicolás Mateos squad will be without its star rider, 2004 individual pursuit world champion Sergi Escobar. Escobar was hit by a motorbike while training on May 22 and is not sufficiently recovered to be able to race.
Other European teams lined up for Euskal Bizikleta include France's Agritubel, which will be led by Alberto Martínez; the Italian Acqua & Sapone and 3C Casalinghi Jet Androni Giocattoli teams; the Swiss LPR and the British-registered, Italian-managed Team Barloworld which will feature Peio Arreitunandia and Félix Cárdenas.
The first stage starts today in Eibar and finishes in Arrigorriaga, after 165.5 km, with three classified climbs at Urkiola, Areitio and Zaratamo. The second stage, between Arrigorriaga and Ispaster (174 km), includes seven cols: one category two, the Sollube; and six third-category climbs, the Garate, Humaran, Santo Domingo, Ere Natxitua and Ere. The third day finishes at the top of the second-category Gatzaga after 190.9 km, and takes in the climbs of Itziar, Meagas, Aizarnazabal, Mandubia, Gatzaga and Uncilla.
Stage four is split into two, with an 84.1 km morning stage between Gatzaga and Agurain, and a flat afternoon time trial in Agurain, of 21.2 km The final stage ends at the summit of the Sanctuary of Arrate.
Start list
Comunidad Valenciana Kaiku 1 José Antonio Pecharroman (Spa) 11 Ruben Oarbeascoa (Spa) 2 Manuel Lloret (Spa) 12 Antonio Berasategui (Spa) 3 David Latasa (Spa) 13 Carlos Castaño (Spa) 4 Julian Sanchez Pimienta (Spa) 14 Jon Bru (Spa) 5 José Luis Martinez (Spa) 15 Dionisio Galparsoro (Spa) 6 José Adrian Bonilla (CRc) 16 Rodrigo Garcia (Spa) 7 Juan Gomis (Spa) 17 Jorge Azanza (Spa) 8 Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) 18 Adrian Palomares (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi Würth Team 21 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) 31 Joseba Beloki (Spa) 22 Igor Anton (Spa) 32 David Etxebarria (Spa) 23 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) 33 Aaron Kemps (Aus) 24 David Herrero (Spa) 34 Aitor Osa (Spa) 25 Ruben Perez (Spa) 35 José Redondo (Spa) 26 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) 36 Carlos Abellan (Spa) 27 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) 37 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) 28 Gorka Verdugo (Spa) 38 Angel Vicioso (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 41 Jose Alberto Benitez (Spa) 51 Eric Berthou (Fra) 42 Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) 52 Iker Leonet (Spa) 43 Javier Mejias (Spa) 53 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) 44 Koldo Gil (Spa) 54 Aitor Perez Arrieta (Spa) 45 Alberto Fernandez (Spa) 55 Mathieu Perget (Fra) 46 Arkaitz Duran (Spa) 57 Pablo Lastras (Spa) 47 David De La Fuente (Spa) 48 Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Barloworld Agritubel 61 Pedro Arreitunandia (Spa) 71 José Alberto Martinez (Spa) 62 Félix Cardenas (Col) 72 Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) 63 Giampaolo Cheula (Ita) 73 Gilles Canouet (Fra) 64 Ryan Cox (RSA) 74 Nicolas Crosbie (Fra) 65 Mads Christensen (Den) 75 Benjamin Jhonson (Aus) 66 Rodney Green (RSA) 76 Aivaras Baranauskas (Ltu) 67 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) 77 Stéphane Berges (Fra) 68 Amets Txurruka (Spa) 78 Mickaël Buffaz (Fra) Relax-Gam Team L.P.R. 81 Dennis Kudashev (Rus) 91 Michele Maccanti (Ita) 82 Nacor Burgos (Spa) 92 Ruggero Borghi (Ita) 83 Jose Miguel Elias (Spa) 93 Paolo Valoti (Ita) 84 Jose Almagro (Spa) 94 Carlos Ochoa (Ven) 85 Francisco Terciado (Spa) 95 Roberto Traficante (Ita) 86 Raul Garcia (Spa) 96 Giuseppe Muraglia (Ita) 87 Jose Martinez (Spa) 98 Daniele Contrini (Ita) 88 Oscar Garcia (Spa) Acqua e Sapone 3 Molinos Resort 101 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) 111 Santos Gonzalez (Spa) 102 Alessandro Donati (Ita) 112 Rafael Casero (Spa) 103 Leonardo Moser (Ita) 113 Jesus Del Nero (Spa) 104 Andrea Masciarelli (Ita) 114 Jorge Ferrio (Spa) 105 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) 115 Mikel Artetxe (Spa) 106 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) 116 Alexis Rodriguez (Spa) 107 Maurizio Soler (Col) 117 Sergio Dominguez (Spa) 108 Andrea Tonti (Ita) 118 Rubén Lorca (Spa) Andalucia-Paul Versan Team Androni Giocattoli-3C Casalinghi 121 Adolfo Garcia Quesada (Spa) 131 Oleksandr Kvachuk (Ukr) 122 Pedro Marichalar (Spa) 132 Raffaele Ferrara (Ita) 123 Fco. Jose Martinez (Spa) 133 Blazej Janiaczyk (Pol) 124 Luis Perez (Spa) 134 Paolo Bailetti (Ita) 125 Jaume Rovira (Spa) 135 Riccardo Chiarini (Ita) 126 Jose Ruiz (Spa) 136 Konstantin Klyuev (Rus) 127 Mario Sanchez (Spa) 137 Juan Magallanes (Mex) 128 Juan Olmo (Spa) 138 Marco Osella (Ita) Orbea Spiuk-Extremadura 141 Josu Agirre (Spa) 151 Angel Rodriguez (Spa) 142 Gustavo Dominguez (Spa) 152 Jose Arroyo (Spa) 143 Joseba Zumeta (Spa) 153 Fernando Torres (Spa) 144 Dailos Diaz (Spa) 154 Pedro Romero (Spa) 145 Xabat Otxotorena (Spa) 155 Jesus Ramirez (Spa) 146 Iker Mezo (Spa) 156 Josu Mondelo (Spa) 147 Aaron Villegas (Spa) 157 David Sojo (Spa) 148 Iban Velasco (Spa) 158 Ignacio Sarabia (Mex) Grupo Nicolas Mateos 161 Joseba Agirrezabala (Spa) 162 Juan Fernandez (Spa) 163 Victor Hernandez (Spa) 164 Pablo De Pedro (Spa) 165 Javier Moreno (Spa) 166 Martín Mata (Spa) 167 Victor García (Spa) 168 Diego Milan (Spa)
Past winners
2005 Eladio Jimenez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 2004 Roberto Heras (Spa) Liberty Seguros 2003 Jose Antonio Pecharroman (Spa) Paternina-Costa de Almeria 2002 Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 2001 Juan Carlos Domínguez Domínguez (Spa) iBanesto.com 2000 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1999 David Etxeberria Alkorta (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 1998 Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto 1997 Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto 1996 Miguel Indurain (Spa) Banesto 1995 Jewgeni Berzin (Rus) Gewiss 1994 Stefano Della-Santa (Ita) Mapei 1993 Pjotr Ugrumow (Lat) Mecair 1992 Franco Chioccioli (Ita) GB-MG Boys 1991 Gianni Bugno (Ita) Château d'Ax Previously : Criterium de Côte d'Arrate (1941-1990) Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com
