Road Season Preview 2004

January 23, 2004

Euskaltel - Euskadi

Euskaltel team launch: "The team that unites us"

By Martin Hardie in Bilbao

Euskadi president José Antonio Ardanza
Photo ©: Iban Gorriti

Euskaltel-Euskadi held its 2004 presentation at the Euskalduna Jauregia, the World Heritage listed concert hall in Bilbao on Thursday, January 23, in front of a packed and enthusiastic audience. Amongst the luminaries present where the Basque President, Juan Jose Ibaretxe.

The presentation included six new faces in the orange aramada, led by ex-Phonak time trial specialist Iker Camaño along with five neo-pros: Anton Luengo, Aketza Peña, Markel Irizar, Koldo Fernández de Larrea (Orbea-Olarra-Consultec) and Gorka Verdugo (Caja Rural).

In the wings awaiting a decision from the UCI as to his future was Mercatone Uno rider Joseba Albizu. Albizu is the centre of a contractual dispute between Euskaltel and Mercatone Uno. Albizu told Cyclingnews that he "wishes to ride at home, it's better" but that Mercatone Uno had ceded his contract to South African team Barloworld. Euskaltel manager, Miguel Madariaga is awaiting a decision of the UCI concerning the dispute, in the meantime, Albizu "hopes all will turn out well".

Cyclingnews shall have more news on Euskaltel, including full coverage of the team and the presentation, an interview with Iban Mayo from our correspondent Martin Hardie, and the first installment from our new diarist Unai Etxebarria over the coming weeks.

Euskaltel-Euskadi roster for 2004

Photography

Images by Iban Gorriti

• The Euskaltel-Euskadi team is presented in Bilbao
• Members of the Euskaltel-Euskadi team at the presentation
• The team's accomplishments are told by an aseginolaza (comedian)
• Juan José Ibarretxe (president of the Basque Goverment) with Miguel Madariaga (team manager), Mikel Sánchez (famous doctor) and José Luis Bilbao (politician)
• José Antonio Ardanza president of the Euskaltel phone company and also a former president of the Basque Goverment
• We are gathered here today...
• Julián Gorospe - Euskaltel's team director
• Julián Gorospe answers the media's questions
• Unai Etxebarria and David Etxebarria. They are not related