Orbea Competition · Euskatel Euskadi's 2004 Tour De France - Orbea Newsletter Number 1. 1st July 2004
 
 
 
The Orange Road to Paris – Objective: the Podium.

Euskaltel-Euskadi held their official departure function at their Derio
headquarters, near Bilbao on Monday as they set off to attend their fourth
Tour de France.

Whilst the mechanics packed the range of Orbea bikes, Orcas, Starships and the
prototype time trial machines of Mayo and Zubeldia aboard the two buses,
three vans and five cars that comprise the orange caravan, the team answered
questions from the media and mingled freely with the large number of fans and
dignitaries that turned out to wish them well.

The team's veteran David Etxaberria spoke to us and summed up the difference
in outlook as the Tour start loomed closer. “This year is different. We have
two clear leaders and the team knows what they have to do: all of the the
riders know their job and we are focussed on ensuring that we lose the
minimum time possible, we just need to keep close to the front especially
during the first complicated week.”

Etxaberria's job is is part to supplement the work of team director Gorospe –
he will be the director on the bike ... “on the road we have to take hold of
the responsibility, without any fear and without looking to anyone else. We
have to know where we are in the race, move and react when we need to. If you
lose 30 seconds in the Tour it is a lot. The objective always will be to make
sure that our two leaders don't lose any time. ”

“In the past our objective was to win some stages and make a spectacle in the
mountains .. we went calmly about that task and last year we had a great
tour. Now having made 5th and 6th last year it is clear that our next
objective has to be the podium ... and for us, the team, this is what we are
thinking about and what we are focussed upon.”

Despite all the attention focussed on him, Iban Mayo says that he is not a
favourite in the Tour. Iban told us in his humble manner that “Ullrich and
Armstrong are the favourites, they are above everyone else, one has five
Tours and one has won one and never finished lower than second ... I am not a
favourite – a stage victory for me is important. Can I improve on my 6th
place of last year? Well we will see, the team is good, it has got one year
more under its belt, everyone is better and we are looking forward to the
race”.
 


When we asked Iban if he though that Armstrong would be stronger than he was a
couple of weeks ago in the Dauphine Libere he said “Yes, I believe so, if he
isn't stronger than he was then he cannot win this Tour ... but I think he
will be much stronger than when he was at the Dauphine.”

Although he finished higher than Mayo in last year's Tour since that time
Haimar Zubeldia has been in Mayo's shadow to a certain extent. Haimar told us
that “at the moment, personally I feeling really good. I had my last test at
the Spanish Championships and I went well and I am happy with my form. Now
all I need is a little luck during the first week. The team is going great,
you have seen how well the team has been going in our recent races. So we are
looking forward to doing our best.”

Regarding reports that Ullrich has said that Armstrong has been bluffing
lately Haimar told us that “I don't know if Armstrong has been bluffing or
not - but in other years he has engaged in a little theatrics – but whether
he has been or not the fact is that he is one of the favourites and he is
always good in the Tour ...”

Haimar's ambition is to do better than last year: “without a doubt I want to
improve on my 5th place of last year, but before we get there we dont know
how we will go. The objective is to give it everything and if at times we
find ourselves in a good position we will see what happens from there” he
added.

Team Director Julian Gorospe said that this year he would not “exchange a
place on the podium for two stage victories ...this year we will try and get
on to the podium and then in coming year's try and advance our positon from
there.”

The team is comprised of Iban Mayo, Haimar Zubeldia, Gorka González, Iker
Camaño, Egoi Martínez, Iñigo Landaluze, Iker Flores, David Etxebarria and
Unai Etxebarria and will ride Orbea Orcas and Starships throughout the race.

  
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