An old hand at helping Lance Armstrong win championships — he once even gave up his bike to Armstrong — has been named to the Team Astana roster to compete at the Tour Down Under in Australia.
Jose Luis Ruberia, 35, of Spain bicycled with Armstrong on the Postal Service and Discovery pro cycling teams, participating in some of Armstrong's Tour de France championships.
Other teammates Assan Bazayev (Kazakhstan), Steve Morabito (Switzerland) and Maxim Iglinskiy (Kazakhstan) all rode in the 2008 Giro d'Italia. They helped teammate Alberto Contador, who is not racing in the 2009 Giro, to win that race.
Cyclists Jesus Hernandez of Spain and Michael Schar of Switzerland round out the 7-man roster for the week-long race that starts in January.
Rubiera
Rubiera rode on US Postal Service/Discovery Channel cycling teams from 2001 to 2007. He joined Astana in 2008.
The Spaniard might best be remembered for giving up his bicycle to Armstrong on the first stage of the 2003 Tour de France.
Looking for his 5th consecutive Tour de France win, Armstrong was involved in a crash on the way to the finish line. His rear tire flatted and wouldn't even turn. Rubiera handed Armstrong his bike so he could finish.
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