Monday, November 11, 2024, 7:12 p.m.
Euskaltel met this Monday in Elgoibar for a week-long concentration, the first step of the 2025 season. The objective of the meeting is to carry out medical tests, visit sponsors and begin the integration of signings. The nine new faces for next season are Jon Agirre, Danny van der Tuuk and Jordi López (Kern Pharma), David Dekker (Arkea), Márton Dina (ATT), Paul Hennequin (Nice), Jokin Murguialday (Caja Rural ) and Louis Sutton (Aix-en-Provence). Ander Ganzabal comes up from the subsidiary, Laboral Kutxa.
The orange team has concluded the season in 39th place in the world ranking, so in 2025 it will be eligible for an invitation to the Vuelta. It was a basic objective of Euskaltel and a challenge for the future, since next year it will have to be classified among the top 30 to have that right in 2026. That goal will require a significant leap in quality compared to what was achieved this year.
Jorge Azanza will once again be the visible head of the sports project, to which Rubén Pérez and Pablo Urtasun join as directors. Pello Olaberria, from Mutilo, leaves the organization chart, who will be sports director of the Red Bull-Bora subsidiary, the new Continental category under-23 team.
The Euskaltel squad will be made up of 21 cyclists, five of them from Gipuzkoa: Jon Agirre, Nicolás Alustiza, Xabier Berasategi, Xabier Isasa and Unai Zubeldia. One less than this year, due to the losses of Mikel Iturria, who is retiring, and Enekoitz Azparren, who signs for Q36.5. Of the 21 members of the team, 14 will be Basque. Ten cyclists are under 25 years old and there are only three over 30. All three, well above: De la Parte (38), Bizkarra and Aberasturi (35). They are followed by Txomin Juaristi with 29.
The continuity of the sponsorship of Euskaltel and Kutxabank contrasts with two striking outlets, such as Orbea bicycles and Etxeondo clothing, traditionally linked to the teams of the Euskadi Foundation, which also maintains the amateur team.
Support from Laboral Kutxa
Although the Euskadi Foundation’s amateur team in 2025 will not be called Laboral Kutxa, which has given its name to the team since 2019, the firm is only withdrawing from ‘naming’ but will continue to support the team and with its support for the youth team. The team will present its new colors shortly.
The female Laboral Kutxa does maintain its main name. Next week, the team led by Usoa Ostolaza will also concentrate its runners in Elgoibar.
