By Monika Prell
The Spanish mountain bike team Orbea BTT signed the Olympic champion, French cyclist Julien Absalon. Absalon is currently the best mountain biker in the world and at the age of 26 he is already one of the best in the history of this sport. He won the world championships consecutively in the past three years. In 2006 he was successful in the French, the European and the world championships and also the world cup. He commented to todociclismo.com that having signed for the Spanish team means "a new challenge in my career. I'm very motivated."
He signed the contract in Mallabia (Spain), where also the other three cyclists of the team, Iñaki Lejarreta, Jean Christophe Peraud and Rubén Rufaza were presented, together with director sportif Ixio Barandiaran, team manager Joseba Aizaga and Orbea director Miguel Ocaña.
Absalon also tried out his new bike, lighter than his last one.
Arizaga is very pleased with his team, which he thinks to be the best in this category in 2007. The team will have a very expanded schedule. The objectives of Absalon will be the same as in 2006, the world cup and the world championship. Besides, also the pre-Olympic race in Beijing in September, a race that is very important for the French cyclist.
