The Basque based team have two major 2005 victories to their name. Whilst the Dauphiné Libéré and Tour de Suisse were won, teammanager Miguel Madariaga will have had a ”bad aftertaste”. Euskaltel’s Landaluze (Dauphiné Libéré) is investigated because of suspected doping usage, but more importantly neither of the big goals were achieved in the season.


In 2003, the performances by Aitor Gonzalez, Haimar Zubeldia and especially Iban Mayo were signs of great things to come. Suddenly, the “small” Euskaltel team was closely watched by the whole cycling community and fans all over the world. These “nuggets” were riding very strong in both Vuelta a España and Tour de France! Apart from that, they had brilliant support in the mountains by riders like Laiseka and Unai Extebarria.


What went wrong at Euskaltel? The “orange” squad started the next season, but failed to make a lasting impression on the crowds, and more importantly the teammanager. So 2004 came and went without any real victories. Miguel Madariaga had to act, a few riders had left the team in the meantime and big name Aitor Gonzalez was integrated into the team. Surely 2005 should get better. Instead, it got worse and he had to wait until the last Grand Tour to see any results.


Apart from the two mentioned wins in 2005, only Samuel Sanchez (stagewin Vuelta) managed to make an impression in the Vuelta a España. Fortunately oldtimer Roberto Laiseka also had a better year. Especially the Vuelta was kind to him with one win and several descent results. It’s no secret that Laiseka will try winning an important stage in the 2006 Tour the France and return to the Vuelta winning one or two more in the hay-days of his career. In good shape he’s certainly capable of just doing that!


It is not all bad at the Basque team: promising riders like Herrero and new signings Mayoz (Relax), Aranaga (Kaiku) and Aitor Hernandez are all young. David Lopez is getting better in the mountains and could well surprise us too. Apart from Extebarria and Laiseka all riders are now younger than 30 years of age, so the teamboss can start buiding on that. Then again, the still hughely popular Mayo might stun us all with his 2006 performance, supported by Zubeldia and young Sanchez. If Landaluze is cleared from all charges and Josu Silloniz gets to be a little faster in the sprints together with Koldo Fernandez, light will shine at the end of a long dark tunnel.


Additions to the team:
Albizuri, Aranaga, Aitor Hernandez, Mayoz, Rubén Pérez, Iriondo, Urrubarri


Left the team:
Egoi Martínez, Artetxe, Lopez de Munain, Aitor Silloniz, Aitor Gonzalez