Asier Etxeberria (1998, Eguesibar, Navarra) will be a runner for Euskaltel Euskadi for the next two seasons after training as a cyclist for the last five years in the amateur teams of the Euskadi Foundation, the last three in the Laboral Kutxa squad. This is the second jump within the structure after the one announced two weeks ago by Unai Iribar, one of the outstanding runners in the past season.
His dedication, perseverance and effort have had the corresponding reward and he makes the leap to professionals from the training subsidiary. In 2019 he was already stagiare, as in this campaign, wearing the orange jersey in the Tour de Limousin and the Tour of Croatia. As a cyclist from Laboral Kutxa, in 2021, he won in Gorla and Elgoibar, he was second in Tolosa, Zegama and Villatuerta. Also fifth in Beasain and sixth in the Vuelta a Zamora. In the Giro sub-23 he ranked 25th.
Etxeberria was trained in the schools of Eguesibar, those of Aranguren, Quesos Albéniz, Fundación Euskadi, Ampo and Laboral Kutxa. The Sports Director of Euskaltel Euskadi, also from Navarre Jorge Azanza, has valued the leap to professionals of the young courage. “We have full confidence in him, he has been with us all his life and the opportunity we offer him now is well deserved. We think that he has the sufficient level to compete in professionals and we hope that he will establish himself in this category since he is a good climber ”, he said.
“Taking this leap is a great step because I have been trying for many years, like the rest of my colleagues. I knew it was difficult but the reward has come based on work. I am very happy because they are two years in which I hope to adapt to the category and progress little by little. I come to learn and help the team. The work of Laboral Kutxa is also to be appreciated because it tries to make its runners grow and learn in any scenario ”, the runner assured as soon as he heard the news. This morning it was made official.
The Euskaltel Euskadi squad is thus configured with Antonio Angulo, Mikel Aristi, Xabier Mikel Azparren, Ibai Azurmendi, Iker Ballarín, Mikel Bizkarra, Joan Bou, Unai Cuadrado, Asier Etxeberria, Peio Goikoetxea, Unai Iribar, Julen Irizar, Mikel Iturria, Txomin Juaristi, Juanjo Lobato, Gotzon Martín, Luis Ángel Maté and Antonio Soto. The latter took, in 2021, the Cycling Tour of Murcia, in his own home. He was born in Alcantarilla 27 years ago.