News
Idirin and Leonet, new Basque reinforcements for Bizkaia-Durango
2015-11-29
The Bizkaia-Durango UCI Women’s Team keeps adding reinforcements to its 2016 roster, and after the signing of the Mauritian rider Kim Le Court, which was announced some weeks ago, the team managed by Agurtzane Elorriaga has now come to an agreement with two Basque riders, maintaining this way its support on local cycling and on the development of Basque cyclists in the elite of international women’s cycling. These two riders are Irati Idirin and Naia Leonet, that will compete for an UCI team for the first time in their careers.
Irati Idirin (Zeberio, 1994) lands in Bizkaia-Durango after a 2015 season in which she was a protagonist in several races such as the Spanish Road Race Championships. On that race she attacked many times and was into some breakaways. “I am so happy with this! I really appreciate the opportunity Bizkaia-Durango is giving me of racing for a team like this,” the Bizkaian rider said after signining the contract.
The other new Basque rider in the team will be Naia Leonet (Errenteria, 1997), that will wear the Bizkaia-Durango colors after having been the undeniable best Basque junior rider in 2015. In April she won the Road Race Basque Championship, and her impressive consistency made her win out the Basque Cup overall classification, competition in which she also won a race, in Bergara. In September, at the Spanish Road Race junior Championship, she achieved the bronze medal in the Time Trial. She’s also an experienced track cyclist—in the Spanish Championhip in August she got the silver in the Points Race and was in the Basque team that got the bronze in the Team Pursuit. “I am super happy and excited with the new season. A few months ago I couldn’t even think of becoming an elite rider, but Bizkaia-Durango has given me this chance and I believe it’s going to be a gratifying and positive experience, so let’s go fot it! People say those who fall down and then lift, they do it stronger than ever, and so will I,” the Gipuzkoan claims.
With Idirin and Leonet, Bizkaia-Durango has now confirmed six riders for the 2016 season (Le Court, Oyarbide, Lekuona, Lanz were announced previously), and during this week more names that will be part of the Basque squad will be announced.