Cobo out, Fernández de la Puebla in for País Vasco

By Monika Prell

Last year's Vuelta al País Vasco winner, Juan José Cobo (Saunier Duval-Scott) will not be able to participate in this year's edition, his team announced Friday. After physical problems forced him to abandon in the Vuelta a Castilla y León, Cobo has just recently recovered and will not be on form to defend his title.

He will be substituted by the young Spaniard Alberto Fernández de la Puebla. Fernández will form part of the team that will consist of the Spaniards José Ángel Gómez Marchante – now the team's leader – David de la Fuente, Iker Camaño, Ruben Lobato, the neo professional Beñat Intxausti and the two Italians Riccardo Riccò and Leonardo Piepoli.