The Euskaltel-Euskadi has closed its workforce for 2022 incorporating the Galician runner Carlos Canal, a “multidisciplinary and future-oriented” cyclist who comes from Burgos-BH, where he has spent the two years he has been a road professional, as reported by the orange formation.
Canal (Xinzo de Limia / Ourense, 2001) was, at the age of 20, the youngest cyclist in the last Tour of Spain.
Euskaltel, UCI ProTeam team, the second international division, stands out from its new incorporation “the talent and versatility “that she has and considers her” a projection and versatile signing “ congratulating himself on having “chosen Basque training to continue with his progression”.
With Canal, which in the junior category was the Spanish CX and MTB champion and reached podiums in the World Cup, the orange team aims to “have visibility in other specialties and events beyond road cycling.”
In statements distributed by his team, the Euskaltel sports director, Jorge Azanza considers Canal, a runner with a “classic” profile, as “one of the runners with the most projection” of Spanish cycling.
Canal, for its part, assures that the “decision to sign for Euskaltel-Euskadi has been very thoughtful” and he has taken it because he considers that “it is a team that works very well with the quarry and gives an impressive projection and growth to young people”.
With this latest addition, Euskaltel closes the squad for 2022 with the following 20 runners: Antonio Angulo, Mikel Aristi, Xabier Mikel Azparren, Ibai Azurmendi, Iker Ballarín, Mikel Bizkarra, Joan Bou, Carlos Canal, Unai Cuadrado, Asier Etxeberria, Peio Goikoetxea, Unai Iribar, Julen Irizar, Xabier Isasa, Mikel Iturria, Txomin Juaristi, Juanjo Lobato, Gotzon Martín, Luis Ángel Maté and Antonio Soto.
Schmid signs for the Deceuninck
The 21-year-old Swiss, Mauro Schmid, stage winner in the Giro d’Italia, from the Qhubeka, is the new signing of Deceuninck Quick Step for the next two seasons.
Schmid showed his potential during the gravel stage of this year’s Giro d’Italia, where he took victory at Montalcino after getting into the good break of the day.
Patrick Lefevere, CEO of Deceuninck, reflected the qualities of the Swiss cyclist.
“Mauro is still very young, but he already has a stage in a big one to his name. The fact that he entered the Montalcino stage only shows what he is capable of. He still has a lot of room to grow, since not long ago he was still combining different disciplines. He will now focus on the road for the next two years, and we are happy to guide him and help him improve. “
Mauro Schmid started mountain biking for fun and later tried some road races to lead to the 17 years in the cyclocross. For four years he combined all the modalities.
“Most of the time I did a mountain bike race on Saturday, Sunday a road race, and then all winter I did CX. At only 14 years old I became a junior, I gave up more or less mountain bike racing as I realized I had more potential on the road. In the second year of junior I started in track cycling and joined the elite national team. I decided to combine the track with the road, “he explained.
In 2021 he put together his first year as a professional on the road and the Olympics.
“It was a big step for me. Now my goal is to leave the track a little behind. I will not retire from the track, I think I will keep it for the winter, but my main focus will be road racing for the next two years. “
The Giro 2021 came unexpectedly for Mauro Schmid, but the memory of the “sterrato” stage it will remain forever in your memory.
“It was the first time that I went into a break from the beginning and it was something totally new. Also, the Giro came unexpectedly for me, as I was not really prepared. I was selected about three weeks before because I was in good shape and they believed in me. For the first few days after this news I was a bit in shock, but then I felt everyone’s support and I knew I had to be confident. I went without expectations, just to support the other guys. “