Haimar Zubeldia will race one final time for Euskaltel Euskadi, when he takes to the start at a...
Haimar Zubeldia will race one final time for Euskaltel (Image credit: Monika Prell)
Haimar Zubeldia will race one final time for Euskaltel Euskadi, when he takes to the start at a criterium organised by Café Baqué. The company celebrates its 30-year sponsorship commitment of the amateur team by organising the criterium in Durango, northern Spain, on Saturday, November 22. Zubeldia will race for Astana next season.
Zubeldia is looking forward to the race. "I have never raced in the Baqué [crit], but when I raced for [Team] Olarra, Baqué was one of the strongest teams in the Spanish amateur scene, like it is today." Zubeldia hoped the sponsor would continue for many more years, as it made a real difference in Spanish racing.
It will be the last time he will wear the orange outfit of Euskaltel Euskadi. "Once more, I want to thank the whole team and wish the best of luck to everyone," Zubeldia said.
His last official races this season were the Deutschland Tour and the Vattenfall Cyclassics. "The last month I was dedicated 100 percent to my family, as since Ane was born [in May - ed.], I did not have time to enjoy that. We were on vacation for nine days in the Canarias in total quietness and with the goal to recharge batteries." Zubeldia stopped riding for an entire month, something which he usually does.
Zubeldia will now undergo some changes, joining a different team. "Everything will be new for me: a new team, new bicycles, new people... The first camp will be at the end of this month and that is where I will get to meet my new teammates." Zubeldia is aware of the fact that on paper Astana is one of the strongest teams in the peloton. "But we will have to demonstrate that in the races."
Zubeldia knows he will be engaged as a helper. "Alberto [Contador] with his youth and Lance [Armstrong] with his palmarès will be our spears. Levi [Leipheimer] and [Andreas] Klöden are also capable of being among the top, and the latest signing, [Yaroslav] Popovych is also a good strengthening of the team."
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Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.
