[3] After a financially turbulent first few seasons, in which the team was on the brink of folding multiple times, they secured their long term and most successful sponsor Euskaltel.

Iban Mayo's commanding victory in the 2004 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré stage race (traditionally seen as one of the tests for Tour de France contenders), including defeating Lance Armstrong in the Mont Ventoux hill climb individual time trial stage, further fueled the hype.

Zubeldia also failed to deliver in the 2004 Tour de France, to the chagrin of Basque fans lining the road.

In the 2005 season the team recruited Aitor González, who won the Tour de Suisse.

In 2006 the sporting director Julián Gorospe was replaced by Igor González de Galdeano, who became technical secretary.

[4] The withdrawal of sponsorship via government funds prompted the team to announce it would be unable to continue after the 2013 season.