2018 marks a new step forward in the project that for the past 25 years has been a source of pride for cycling fans in the Basque Country. The Euskadi Foundation returns to an array of leading cycling competitions across the world, with a squad made up entirely by riders trained by the foundation.
Basque pro cyclist Mikel Landa, on board as the foundation’s President, has fuelled expectations for the team and the Basque Country in 2018. Sporting its iconic orange colour, the team’s goal is to maintain the philosophy with which it started out 25 years ago: the training of young promising cyclists and to promote the almost inexhaustible Basque reserve ranks.
After building its structure for three years in the amateur cycling category, the first step towards this goal has been to take the step up to the UCI Continental category, supported by an experienced technical team, led by Jorge Azanza as Sports Director, and placing trust in young riders with a bright future ahead of them. The idea is “to create a team of cyclists for cyclists,” in the words of Mikel Landa.
Spanish bike brand Orbea has been associated with the Euskadi Foundation project since its beginning. Over the past 25 years, Orbea notes that it has ‘experienced important growth that has enabled it to compete today in equal conditions with those who only surpassed us in size and in financial ability, but never in enthusiasm or passion.’
Together with co-sponsor Etxeondo, and thanks to the support of all the cycling fans in the Basque Country, and especially the members of the Euskadi Foundation, Orbea adds that its dream is for the Euskadi Foundation team to return to the elite levels of world cycling competition.
The Euskadi team makes its debut on 25 January in the Vuelta a Mallorca. The Orca OMR, which also brings back its orange colour, will be the bicycle of the Euskadi team in 2018. Orbea notes that ‘Its racing geometry encourages attacks by maximizing aerodynamics, light weight and reactivity. It is without a doubt the ideal bicycle for climbers and the mountain stages.’
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