 | TEAM FACTFILE Country: Spain's Basque territory Manager: Miguel Madariaga Barinaga Best Tour: 2001, 12th place by Inigo Chaurreau |
The former Euskaltel-Euskadi team did not have a good time of it overall despite being heavily fancied to shine on last year's Tour de France. Iban Mayo had been tipped as possibly the likeliest candidate to halt Lance Armstrong's sixth victory.
But he was disastrously off the pace - because of a virus according to his team - and eventually quit the race on the 15th stage.
The team have bulked up with the signing of Aitor Gonzalez.
The former Tour of Spain winner - in 2002 - won stage 14 of the Tour after jumping off the front of a 10-man breakaway.
When this all-Basque team shines, they are one of the most exiciting in the world, with the sort of climbers able to win on even the toughest ascents.
Mayo, their team leader, is arguably the most naturally gifted climber in the world at the moment, should he shun the setbacks from 12 months ago.
Where they may struggle, however, is on the time trial, which could cost Mayo.
A series of big-name riders have passed through their ranks in the past, among them Liberty-Seguros rider Joseba Beloki.
MMIX
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