Euskatel Pays Basque

Pays Basque is a part of Spain with a history of questioning whether it is actually part of Spain on the part of certain population segments. Many people of the Pays Basque in Spain see their affiliation with more that region than Spain overall. Euskatel riders are from the Pays Basque.

Perhaps in Spain people already know Euskatel riders are from that region, for the Vuelta?

trevsy said:

what is the literal translation of the slogan

I believe "Pays" is the same as país in Spanish, meaning "country" as in the "Basque Country".

Eagle of Toledo said:

I believe "Pays" is the same as país in Spanish, meaning "country" as in the "Basque Country".

I wouldn't pay a Basque anything.
So I can't imagune why Euskatel pays basque.

trevsy said:

Can anyone tell me why the Euskatel team have "Pays Basque" printed on their uniforms during the TDF but not whilst appearing in the Vuelta which is effectively their "home" race and what is the literal translation of the slogan
Cheers Trev

I'll defer to our Spanish and French based posters on the more subtle aspects of the Basque issue.
The Basque region - in the immediate vacinity either side of the French/Spanish Pyrennees - has long sought autonomy from both the French and Spanish nations.
Inherently, the Basque "nation" is referred to as Pays (Pais) Basque in both France and Spain.
Euskatel is a Spanish Basque-based team.

The Basque people have long sought automony over their own region.
"Pays" (Pais) is translated as land.
Pays (Pais) Basque is Basque land.
You also have other regions in northern Spain such as Pays (Pais) Vasco.

limerickman said:

You also have other regions in northern Spain such as Pays (Pais) Vasco.

I believe that Pays (pais) Vasco and Pays Basque are one in the same thing?
I'm not sure what the Basque people call their place, but the spanish call it ''Pais Vasco.''

Ullefan said:

I believe that Pays (pais) Vasco and Pays Basque are one in the same thing?
I'm not sure what the Basque people call their place, but the spanish call it ''Pais Vasco.''

I wasn't sure if both names referred to the same region Ulle !

You could well be right - in that the Spanish might refer to that region as Vasco, whereas the Basques call it Basque, naturally.

You are all wrong in particular Musette..... WBT is married to a Spaniard and she informs me that 'Pays Basque' is reference to group of provinces of the Basque Country which border France (thus referencing a portion of the Basque country). It is located in Northen Spain and the South West of France. It includes three French provinces of Soule, Basse-Navarre and Labourde.

The 'Basque country' entire comprises of the four Spanish provinces Navarre, Alava, Biscay and Guipuzcoa and the French provinces.

The reason why there team is named Euskaltel-Euskadi is that Euskaltel is the phone company which sponsors the team and Euskadi translates to the ‘Fatherland of Basque’ which is now the political reference to the Basque Autonomous Government which governs the three French provinces where the team comes from.

So in short 'Pays Basque' is a reference to the part of the Basque Country where the team resides. (and where the riders come from).

The reason why the term is on the shirts during the Tour de France and not the Vuelta is probably because the race passes through the Pays Basque region during the Tour de France but not the Vuelta. It may also raise political connotations during the Vuelta which they may want to avoid.

Everyone needs a bit of WBT in their lives.

musette said:

Pays Basque is a part of Spain with a history of questioning whether it is actually part of Spain on the part of certain population segments. Many people of the Pays Basque in Spain see their affiliation with more that region than Spain overall. Euskatel riders are from the Pays Basque.

Perhaps in Spain people already know Euskatel riders are from that region, for the Vuelta?

WBT -- You might want to read more clearly. In the context of Euskatel, my earlier response was accurate. Pays Basque does refer to a part of Spain; that it also refers to a part of France is not why that reference is on the shirts of the Euskatel riders during the TdF. They are obviously not referring to the part of the Pays Basque that is in France, unless you want to make that argument and have that clearly defeated.

All Euskatel riders are also from the Pays Basque, as I noted. That you say something isn't accurate doesn't mean it isn't. 😎

Unai Excheberria is from Venezuela, although his name is basque.

Ullefan said:

Unai Excheberria is from Venezuela, although his name is basque.

this is true, but his grandparents are basque. thats why he's 'allowed' to ride on the team. that's what they say on eurosport anyhow.

Bjørn P.Dal said:

this is true, but his grandparents are basque. thats why he's 'allowed' to ride on the team. that's what they say on eurosport anyhow.

can someone show pictures or whatever that Euskatel actually wears different uniforms at Vuelta 2005 and TdF 2005.
Do they really have different kits.
I would be surprised given the cost etc.

musette said:

WBT -- You might want to read more clearly. In the context of Euskatel, my earlier response was accurate. Pays Basque does refer to a part of Spain; that it also refers to a part of France is not why that reference is on the shirts of the Euskatel riders during the TdF. They are obviously not referring to the part of the Pays Basque that is in France, unless you want to make that argument and have that clearly defeated.

All Euskatel riders are also from the Pays Basque, as I noted. That you say something isn't accurate doesn't mean it isn't. 😎

I showed my wife your responce and she is having a chuckle... 'What ?, does American tell me about my own country....?' she joked in her sexy Spainish accent....

'Yes' I replied... in my deadpan English / German accent......

'They think they know about everyone's country...!' she said with laughter !

We shrugged our shoulders and went back to our wine and cheese....... 😎

Here's another possibility. Could it be that the Pays Basque, Spain are a sponsor of Euskatel-Euskadi, although not a name sponsor? That say, like any other sponsor, it would have its name on the jersey of the team?

Here are some photos (not from the TdF) involving the "Pays Basque" reference.

http://www.fundacioneuskadi.com/asp/fotosEquipo.asp?temporada=2005

Hence, the "Pays Basque" may be more than a declaration of emotive affiliation of the team, but be the more practical embodiment on the jersey of one of the non-name sponsors?

This picture is better.....😄 😎

pezcyclingnews.comtdf04 orbea1.jpgOpen ↗

musette said:

Here's another possibility. Could it be that the Pays Basque, Spain are a sponsor of Euskatel-Euskadi, although not a name sponsor? That say, like any other sponsor, it would have its name on the jersey of the team?

Here are some photos (not from the TdF) involving the "Pays Basque" reference.

fundacioneuskadi.comfotosEquipo.aspOpen ↗

Hence, the "Pays Basque" may be more than a declaration of emotive affiliation of the team, but be the more practical embodiment on the jersey of one of the non-name sponsors?

Speaking of EE, last I read, Mayo was having some "communication" problems with his DS. I wonder if Mayo wants to leave EE?

A couple more points: "pais vasco" is Spanish (castellano) for Pays Basque, which is French. The Basque language is called euskara (some times euskera) and the way to say "pais vasco" in euskara is euskal herria.

The Pays Basque on the TdF shorts being a reference to the "French" Basque provinces makes the most sense.

And one other way onto the Euskaltel team is to have raced on a Basque development team (even if you're not Basque or even from a Basque province)... I think Roberto Heras even qualifies under this provision.

Agur

musette said:

Here's another possibility. Could it be that the Pays Basque, Spain are a sponsor of Euskatel-Euskadi, although not a name sponsor? That say, like any other sponsor, it would have its name on the jersey of the team?

Here are some photos (not from the TdF) involving the "Pays Basque" reference.

http://www.fundacioneuskadi.com/asp/fotosEquipo.asp?temporada=2005

Hence, the "Pays Basque" may be more than a declaration of emotive affiliation of the team, but be the more practical embodiment on the jersey of one of the non-name sponsors?

I suggest that you read and try to understand WBT's/Diablo's explanation - rather than trying to justify the error-ridden waffle you posted earlier.

In saying Basque country is a part of Spain (when used in the sense on the Euskatel jersey), I was 100% correct. It is also correct that the Basque country has had separatist sentiments. 😉 😄

musette said:

In saying Basque country is a part of Spain (when used in the sense on the Euskatel jersey), I was 100% correct. It is also correct that the Basque country has had separatist sentiments. 😉

The Basque country isn't only part of Spain.

If you knew what you were talking about - you won't post incorrect statements like the one you posted above (and earlier).