Basque Orange

The Tour de France is about to start, the big question is, what is all that noise about Lance Armstrong doping his way through the tour?

Oh yes, they got an Italian, they got a Basque, but somehow Lance continues to evade the "vampires". Could it be that the Tour organizers need him in order for the event to draw crowds? It could be, money talks they say. It seems like a big cover up, I wonder if Lance was required to pay a large amount of money so he can hold the title of six wins in a row. Or if it is time to hail a new hero.

Or will he go down like David Millar from England?

This English scumbag has been raking in medals and trophies all over the place, and he was using the same dope that Lance is accused of using, one that goes right under the radar.

Thanks god there is real riders, like Ulrich, Hamilton, Vinokourov and...

...The Basque Orange!

Yup, this year seems to be the year of the Basques at the Tour. Last year our hopes were crushed when Joseba Beloki then in the ONCE-Eroski team suffered the terrible accident that put him out of the competition and ultimately complicated things for this year's event.

This year the Basque Country is fielding people like Iban Mayo (who just obliterated a possibly dope free Armstrong at the Dauphine), Haimar Zubeldia and David Etxebarria.

If you want to read a little more about the Euskaltel-Euskadi team, the all-Basque team, check this link to Daily Peloton titled "Orange Crush":

Orange Crush!

By Staff
Date: 07/01/04

By Paula Andrist

The peloton rolls along at almost 200 riders strong. They aren't hard to pick out in their day-glow orange kits, the riders of the all-Basque team, Euskaltel-Euskadi. Originally the team was formed January 1, 1994, by the Euskadi Foundation, with the stock proceeds from a company of shareholders going to support a team of the best Basque cyclists. Then named simply, Euskadi, which in Basque means "the Basques", the team grew and flourished. In 1997 when the team became too expensive for the shareholders to support, the Basque telephone company, Euskaltel (which is where the day-glow orange comes from), joined as sponsor and the team was appropriately renamed Euskaltel-Euskadi. The all-Basque unit made its Tour debut in 2001 and has been known as an animator of the race ever since.

In 2004, Euskaltel-Euskadi comes to the Tour de France with a solid line up, including two possible GC contenders and several seasoned veterans, including three Tour de France stage winners. The roster is: Iban Mayo, Haimar Zubeldia, Unai Etxebarria, David Etxebarria, Gorka Gonzalez, Iker Flores, Iker Camano, Egoi Marti­nez, and Inigo Landaluze.

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