Tour de France - Caisse d'Espargne/Illes Balears Team

2006 Team Presentation.  Photo c. Karen Lambrecht

Causse d'Espargne/Illes Balears Confirms Team
Eusebio Unzue Sporting Director, will lead the Team Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears in the Tour de France, which starts on Saturday July, the 1st.

ProTour leader Alejandro Valverde will be the team leader. “With Valverde, everybody has seen the future of cycling. He's fast, he's strong, he's intelligent. It's impressive." A high recommendation indeed from 6 times winner Lance Armstrong on Alejandro after the white jersey wearer took the mountain stage 10 in last years Tour after a mano e mano battle with Armstrong on Courchevel. By stage 13 a knee injury had Valverde retiring from the tour though still in the white jersey of Best Young rider.

The talented Caisse d’Epargne rider tops the ranking in the ProTour with 195 points leading his nearest rival (Ivan Basso, by 57 points) after his success in the Fleche-Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege spring classics race.  In January at the team presentation it was clear that Alejandro would be the team leader. After a Cinderella season with a steady showing on the top step of the podium Alejandro is expected to be a force this year; with some expecting a top ten showing and expected stage victories; although it remains to be seen if the strong rider is capable of a wining the tour at this stage in his career.

Last year “Badger,” Bernhard Hinault, wrote in the official Tour guide – “The presence of Karpets and Mancebo alone makes Illes Balears a team to follow. But the one rider we are waiting to see is Valverde. Frankly, if he were to win this Tour I wouldn’t be surprised."

Valverde on his way to victory in stage 4 in the Tour of Normandie
Photo c. Fotoreporter Sirotti

David Arroyo finished 18th on the G.C. in the recent tour du Suisse, and had a solid tour ride last year.

The team has confirmed its line-up:
David Arroyo
Florent Brard
Isaac Gálvez
José Vicente García Acosta
Vladimir Karpets
Oscar Pereiro
Nicolas Portal
Alejandro Valverde
Xabier Zandio.
D.S. Eusebio Unzue

Valverde victory in 92nd Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Photo c. Fotoreporter Sirotti

Team Pinarello   Photo c. Karen Lambrecht

CAISSE D’EPARGNE – ILLES BALEARS PARA EL TOUR DE FRANCIA
Eusebio Unzue será el director deportivo del equipo Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears en el Tour de Francia, que empezará el sábado 1 de julio.
Los corredores seleccionados son: David Arroyo, Florent Brard, Isaac Gálvez, José Vicente García Acosta, Vladimir Karpets, Oscar Pereiro, Nicolas Portal, Alejandro Valverde y Xabier Zandio.

CAISSE D’EPARGNE – ILLES BALEARS POUR LE TOUR DE FRANCE
Eusebio Unzue sera le directeur sportif de l’équipe Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears qui participera au Tour de France qui débutera le samedi 1er juillet.
L’équipe sera composée des coureurs suivants: David Arroyo, Florent Brard, Isaac Gálvez, José Vicente García Acosta, Vladimir Karpets, Oscar Pereiro, Nicolas Portal, Alejandro Valverde et Xabier Zandio.