Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco 2010 Live Dashboard


2010 Podium: RadioShack's Chris Horner may have struggled on the podium, but earlier he uncorked a clutch individual time trial performance to win the final stage, the overall and the prized 50th Txapela (the great hat). Photo: Colin Flockton, steephill.tv
Route Map  |  Stage Details  |  Preview  |  News  |  Teams  |  Live Internet  |  TV  |  2009




copyright (c) 2009, 2010 steephill.tv

2010 Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco Teams
Team Rosters and Withdrawals

News and Updates for Vuelta al País Vasco 2011

Vuelta al País Vasco 2011 Live Dashboardsteephill.tv

News and Updates for Vuelta al País Vasco 2010

Stage 6 results: Chris Horner walks the talk; takes the final stage ITT win and the overall from Alejandro Valverde



Stage 6 results
1  Chris Horner (RadioShack)                  32:33
2  Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargen)     + 0:08
3  Maxime Monfort (HTC-Columbia)             + 0:13
4  Michale Rogers (HTC-Columbia)             + 0:18
5  Beñat Intxausti (Euskaltel-Euskadi)       + 0:21
6  Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)        + 0:23
7  Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia)              + 0:25
8  Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)               + 0:33
9  Jean ChristophePeraud (Omega Pharma-L) 
10 Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)               + 0:34

Enlarge Podium Photo
Final general classification
1  Christopher Horner (RadioShack)         23:27:30
2  Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)     + 0:07
3  Beñat Intxausti (Euskaltel-Euskadi)       + 0:58
4  Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)               + 1:06
5  Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-L)   + 1:10
6  Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia)              + 1:18
7  Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux)          + 1:47
8  Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)        + 1:58
9  Robert Gesink (Rabobank)                  + 1:59
10 Dries Devenyns (Quick Step)               + 2:27
Horner wins Basque Tourvelonews
Horner wins Tour of Basque Country after blitzing TTcyclingweekly.co.uk
Stage 6 podium and action photosvueltapaisvasco.diariovasco
Horner blasts his way to stage and race wincyclingnews (Full Results)
Stage 6 photoscyclinginside
  Podium Ceremonyeitb
  Chris Horner: "Ésta es mi carrera mi favorita" (01:29 english and spanish) — eitb
  Alejandro Valverde: "No he podido ganar, pero el balance es positivo" (01:32 spanish) — eitb
  Beñat Intxausti: "No esperaba estar en el podium" (02:33 )— eitb
  Stage 6 Highlights; Valverde's finish (03:09 spanish) — rtve.es
  Valverde vs Horner Highlights (01:55) — universalsports
  Chris Horner post-race interview (06:55) — universalsports
April 10 update: One second. That's all a confident sounding Chris Horner needs to beat Alejandro Valverde during the final day individual time-trial. The 22k course is technical with a good 300m hill in the first half. Valverde is normally the better TTer and bike handler and he has looked good all week, but it would be great to see Horner win. It should be an interesting finale to the 50th edition of this fine race. See the race summary table (r) for the stage profile, map, timetable. — Steve
Interactive map and profile with Google Earth optionbikemap.net
ITT Start Order and Times (scroll down) — biciciclismo
Horner ‘confident’ ahead of TT showdown with Valverdevelonews


Stage 5 results: Joaquim Rodríguez solos in to move up to third on GC after a hilly, technical stage




Stage 5 results
1  Joaquim Rodríguez (Team Katusha)             4:07:52
2  Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)            + 0:14
3  Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
4  Chris Horner (Team RadioShack) 
5  Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux)              + 0:20
6  Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre) 
7  Ryder Hesjdeal (Garmin-Transitions) 
8  Dries Devenyns (Quick Step) 
9  Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Omega Pharma-Lotto) 
10 Jean Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto) 
11 Marco Pinotti (Team HTC-Columbia) 
12 Beñat Intxausti (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 
13 Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) 
14 Haimar Zubeldia (Team RadioShack) 
15 Maxime Monfort (Team HTC-Columbia) 
16 Kanstantin Siutsou (Team HTC-Columbia)        + 0:24
17 Evgeni Petrov (Team Katusha)                  + 0:42
18 Dani Navarro (Astana)                         + 0:51
19 Daniel Martin (Garmin-Transitions)            + 0:59

General classification after stage 5
1  Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
2  Christopher Horner (Team RadioShack)          + 0:01
3  Joaquim Rodríguez (Team Katusha)              + 0:34
4  Jean Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto)   + 0:38
5  Beñat Intxausti (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
6  Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank)                 + 0:45
7  Marco Pinotti (Team HTC-Columbia)             + 0:54
8  Robert Gesink (Rabobank) 
9  Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) 
10 Dries Devenyns (Quick Step)                   + 1:16
Rodriguez soloes in for Katusha; Valverde retains overall lead (Full Results) — cyclingnews
Horner ‘confident’ ahead of TT showdown with Valverdevelonews
Rodriguez wins in Basque Country, Valverde defends leadvelonation
Horner Looks to Saturday's Time Triallivestrong
Crash drops Gesink from third to eighthcyclingnews
Stage 5 photoscyclingnews
  Amets Txurruka crashes on a late descent while leading the stage (01:44 no audio) — eitb
  The very steep final climb, Alto de Aia-Frontón (02:10 ambient noise) — eitb
  Last 2 Km (07:21 no audio) — eitb
Stage 5 photosvueltapaisvasco.diariovasco
April 9 update: Stage 5 is a day with more good hills and two cat 2 climbs, the second being short but steep, close to the final km, downhill finish in Orio. See the race summary table (r) for the stage profile, map, timetable. — Steve
Interactive map and profile with Google Earth optionbikemap.net


Stage 4 results: Sanchez takes the Queen Stage while Valverde moves into the overall lead






Also follow steephill on Twitter for the latest race info and video updates.
Stage 4 results
1  Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
2  Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)         + 0:02
3  Robert Gesink (Rabobank)
4  Chris Horner (Team RadioShack)                
5  Beñat Intxausti (Euskaltel-Euskadi)           + 0:33
6  Jean-Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
7  Damiano Cunego (Lampre)                       + 0:40
8  Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank)
9  Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux)              + 0:49
10 Joaquim Rodríguez (Team Katusha) 

General classification after stage 4
1  Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
2  Christopher Horner (Team RadioShack)          + 0:01
3  Robert Gesink (Rabobank)
4  Jean Christophe Peraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto)   + 0:32
5  Beñat Intxausti (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
6  Damiano Cunego (Lampre)                       + 0:39
7  Andy Schleck (Team Saxon Bank)
8  Marco Pinotti (Team HTC-Columbia)             + 0:48
9  Joaquim Rodríguez (Team Katusha) 
10 Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux)
Sanchez wins hilly stage in Pais Vasco (Full Results) — cyclingnews
Frank Schleck crashes at Basque Countryvelonews
Horner Animates in Basque Countrylivestrong
  Samuel Sánchez: "Dedico la victoria a mi prima Laura y a mi amigo Álvaro" (02:15 spanish) — eitb
Stage 4 photoscyclingnews
  Last 2 Km (04:10 spanish) — rtve.es
  Last 8 Km Part 1 (10:00 basque) | Part 2 (08:12) — eitb
  Last 6 km (16:40 spanish) — eitb
April 8 update: Unlike the first three stages, Stage 4 will not end in a sprint finish. This is the most difficult stage with eight categorized climbs including 2 cat 1's with one of them in the last 10 km of the stage in Eibar, a popular stop for this race. Call this the Queen Stage. See the race summary table (r) for the stage profile, map, timetable. — Steve
Interactive map and profile with Google Earth optionbikemap.net


Stage 3 results: Another sprint finish with Oscar Freire just missing out for the straight third day

Stage 3 results
1  Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre)              4:49:52
2  Oscar Freire (Rabobank)
3  Peter Velits (Team HTC-Columbia) 
4  Alexandre Botcharov (Team Katusha) 
5  Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 
6  Davide Vigano (Team Sky) 
7  Christian Knees (Team Milram) 
8  Davide Malacarne (Quick Step) 
9  Paul Martens (Rabobank) 
10 Kristjan Koren (Liquigas) 
11 Alexander Efimkin (AG2R) 
12 Marco Pinotti (Team HTC-Columbia)        + 0:02
13 Daniele Pietropolli (Lampre) 
14 Iban Velasco (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 
15 Thomas Rohregger (Team Milram) 
16 David Loosli (Lampre) 
17 Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick Step) 
18 Serafín Martínez (Xacobeo Galicia) 
19 Mauro Finetto (Liquigas) 
20 Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) 

General classification after stage 3
1  Oscar Freire (Rabobank)
2  Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)    + 0:01
3  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions)      + 0:03
Gavazzi takes the sprint in Amurriocyclingnews
Stage 2 photoscyclingnews
Gavazzi brucia Freire Che sprint nei Paesi Baschi!gazzetta.it
  Last Km (01:52 spanish) — eitb
April 7 update: Stage 3 is a rolling stage as we head back north(west) for a flat finish this time in Amurrio so expect another field sprint. See the race summary table (r) for the stage profile, map, timetable. — Steve
Interactive map and profile with Google Earth optionbikemap.net


Stage 2 results

Valverde outsprints Freire in Vianacyclingnews
Valverde takes another win at Basque Tourvelonews
  Last Km (04:58) — rtve.es
Stage 2 photosbiciciclismo
... more to come... April 5 update: Stage 2 is a rolling-hilly route south from the stage 1 host, Zierbena to Viana, some 210k later with one circuit thrown in. There is a 4% uphill grade for the last km. See the race summary table (r) for the stage profile, map, timetable. — Steve
Interactive map and profile with Google Earth optionbikemap.net


Stage 1: The break fails; Alejandro Valverde wins the sprint finish after provisional winner Oscar Freire is relegated

Stage 1 results
1  Oscar Freire (Rabobank)   relegated       3:57:57
1  Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
2  Christophe Le Mevel (Française des Jeux)
3  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions)
4  Alexandr Kolobnev (Team Katusha)
5  Jurgen Van den Broeck (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
6  Rigoberto Urán (Caisse d'Epargne)
7  Haimar Zubeldia (Team RadioShack) 
8  Daniel Martin (Garmin-Transitions)
9  Beñat Intxausti (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
10 Sandy Casar (Française Des Jeux)
Valverde wins opening stage after Freire is relegated (Full Results) — cyclingnews
Hesjedal third as Valverde awarded win at Basque Country openervelonews
Alejandro Valverde, ganador de la primera etapa de la Vuelta ciclista al País Vasco tras la descalificación de Freirediariovasco
The victory salute and protest salute
Alejandro Valverde finally gets to celebrate on the podium
Stage 1 photoscyclingnews
  Last Km (00:56 spanish) — rtve.es
  Last Km with overhead angle (00:49 spanish) — eitb
  Last Km and Finish Analysis (02:50 english) — eurosport
... more to come...

2010 official rosters

April 5 update: Updated for today's start:
2010 Official Rosters/Startlist April 4 update: Stage 1 is a hilly bar-bell shaped loop starting and ending in Zierbena in the coastal region of the Basque Country just west of San Sebastian. There is a cat 2 climb 25 km from the finish, which is fairly flat for the last 15 km, with the last km being slightly downhill. See the race summary table (r) for the stage profile, map, timetable. — Steve
Interactive map and profile with Google Earth optionbikemap.net



En Directo: Live Video Streaming and TV Coverage

April 8 update: Your Tour of the Basque Country live coverage options for North America and elsewhere. Check back at race time for the latest live links. Feel free to send in additional sources for live video or tv coverage as they become known. — Steve



media source tv or internet comments/restrictions
   live video (basque)
  tv schedule
Worldwide; Basque; daily broadcast at 15:15 CEST.
   live video (spanish)
   live video (unrestricted)
  tv schedule
Spanish; Teledeporte feed; daily at 15:45 CEST (105 min).
   live video (basque)
  tv schedule
Worldwide; Basque; daily broadcast at 16:35 CEST
   live video (basque)
  tv schedule
Free worldwide; Basque; daily broadcast at 15:55 CEST.
   live video (no audio)
  tv schedule (see comments)
North America only?; live streaming video every day starting at 9:45 AM ET (90 min); no commentary; Delayed broadcast w/ English commentary on the Universal Sports TV Channel at 12 PM ET (90 min). On-demand rebroadcast of Stage 6
eurosport    live video (english)
   live audio (english)
  tv schedule (europe)
British Eurosport only; live at 15:00 GMT (90 min); highlights at 20:30 GMT (70 min);
   live video (french)
  tv schedule
France and Europe satellites; live each day at 16:00 CEST with rebroadcasts throughout the day
 live text updates Official text updates in Spanish and ticker (Google English Translation)
live text updates ES
live text updates EN
The Spanish website Biciciclismo alos has the latest race updates
 steephill text updates
 #VueltaPaisVasco twitter group
short text updates from any and everyone
check back at race time for more and updated links; email send a comment or a new live link


2010 Previews

Preview: Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vascopodiumcafe
Valverde looks forward to Basque CountryAgence France Presse
Valverde and Schleck leading figures in Tour of the Basque Countryeitb
Dan Martin looks forward to Basque Countrycyclingweekly.co.uk
Spaniards expected to dominate in mountainous Pais Vascocyclingnews


2010 roster now posted

April 1 update: 2010 Provisional Rosters/Startlist

Interactive stage maps now posted

March 21 update: Thanks to bikemap.net, we now have interactive maps for each stage. Stage 1 was very hard to map and there may be a few mistakes. See the 'map' links in the race summary table (right) — Steve


Also follow steephill on Twitter for the latest race info and video updates.

2010 Early Preview

January 25 update: The 2010 and 50th Tour of the Basque Country will see the return of last year's champion and 2009 Tour de France winner, Alberto Contador. Expect tougher competition with Andy and Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank), World Champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) and Spanish rival Samuel Sanchez also expected to partake... more to come.
Learn more about this race from last year's introduction. Thanks to Colin Flockton for the heads up on the 2010 info. — Steve



 
1 Monday, April 6th 142 km 
AtaunAtaun
profile  |  map  |  timetable  |  results  |  photos  |  video
2 Tuesday, April 7th 169 km 
AtaunVillatuerta
profile  |  map  |  timetable  |  results  |  photos  |  video
3 Wednesday, April 8th 163 km 
VillatuertaÉibar
profile  |  map  |  timetable  |  results  |  photos  |  video
4 Thursday, April 9th 152 km 
ÉibarGüeñes
profile  |  map  |  timetable  |  results  |  photos  |  video
5 Friday, April 10th 162 km 
GüeñesZalla
profile  |  map  |  timetable  |  results  |  photos  |  video
6 Saturday, April 11th 24 km 
ZallaZalla TT
profile  |  map  |  timetable  |  results  |  photos  |  video
  Total Distance 812 km 

copyright (c) 2009 steephill.tv



2009 Vuelta al País Vasco Teams
Team Rosters and Withdrawals

News and Updates for Vuelta al País Vasco 2009

Tour of the Basque Country 2010 Live Video, Route, Stages,
Teams, TV Schedule, Results and Photos

Stage 6 results: Alberto Contador wins the final TT to seal up his overall win


Contador also won last year's final TT. The Final GC Podium.
Big Photos from Stage 6colin flockton
Stage 6 results
1. Alberto Contador (Spanje/Astana)                    31:59
2. Antonio Colom (Spanje/Katusha)                    +   :22
3. Samuel Sanchez (Spanje/Euskaltel-Euskadi)         +   :45
4. Michael Rogers (Australië/Team Columbia-Highroad) +   :09
5. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spanje/Caisse d'Epargne)       +  1:13
6. Marco Pinotti (Italië/Team Columbia-Highroad)     +  1:18
7. Christian Vandevelde (Amerika/Garmin-Slipstream)  +  1:22
8. Cadel Evans (Australië/Silence-Lotto)             +  1:25
9. Robert Gesink (Nederland/Rabobank)                     st
10. Damiano Cunego (Italië/Lampre)                   +  1:26

Final General classification
1. Alberto Contador (Spanje/Astana)                 20:48:30
2. Antonio Colom (Spanje/Katusha)                    +   :30
3. Samuel Sanchez (Spanje/Euskaltel-Euskadi)         +   :53
4. Cadel Evans (Australië/Silence-Lotto)             +  1:33
5. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spanje/Caisse d'Epargne)       +  1:48
6. Damiano Cunego (Italië/Lampre)                    +  1:53
high-res victory salute
Contador celebrates after crossing the lineuniversalsports
Big Photos from Stage 6colin flockton
Contador arrolla en la crono y se lleva la Vueltaas
Full Resultscyclingnews
  Stage 6 Highlightsuniversalsports

Stage 5 results: Marco Pinotti of Team Columbia solos the last 15k in the pouring rain and finishes 20 seconds ahead of the field sprint


Big Photos from Stage 5colin flockton
Stage 5 results
1 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team Columbia - Highroad     4.15.56
2 Ben Swift (GBr) Team Katusha                        0.19
3 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C.                 
4 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram                       
5 Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Milram                   
6 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale                 
7 David López García (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne               
8 Peter Velits (Svk) Team Milram                          
9 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick Step                         
10 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana

General classification after stage 5
1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana                   20.16.31
2 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi            0.08
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto   
Full Resultscyclingnews
Pinotti hammers home win at Basque Tourvelonews
  Last 3 Km
El italiano Pinotti aprovechó la falta de batalla entre los favoritosas
Stage 5 Photosuniversalsports
Contador Carries Yellow To Final Dayastana-cyclingteam
Big Photos from Stage 5colin flockton
Pinotti, è impresa veragazzetta.it
Pinotti aprovecha el marcaje entre los favoritos para ganar en Zallavueltapaisvasco.diariovasco
  Stage 5 Highlights (2:00) — universalsports
Stage 5 Photosofficial site

Stage 4 results: Albasini wins easily from the three man break/sprint


Big Photos from Stage 4colin flockton
Stage 4 results
1 Michael Albasini (Swi) Team Columbia - Highroad    
2 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Silence-Lotto          
3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream    
4 Ben Swift (GBr) Team Katusha                      1.25                      
5 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step                       
6 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Cervélo TestTeam 

General classification after stage 4
1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana                      16.00.16
2 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi               0.08
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto                            
4 Antonio Colom Mas (Spa) Team Katusha                       
5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C.                   0.27
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank                           0.32
7 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne           0.35
8 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas                         0.54
Full Results...coming — cyclingnews
Etapa para Albasini y Contador sigue líder as
high-res victory salute
Vande Velde third, Contador in control, Horner crashes outvelonews
Jurgen Van den Broeck grijpt naast bloemen (...coming?) — sporza.be
Big Photos from Stage 4colin flockton
Stage 4 Photosuniversalsports
  Stage 4 Highlights (01:51) — universalsports
Stage 4 Photosofficial site

Stage 3 results: Contador dances away with the Queen Stage

Stage 3 results
1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana                       4.16.29  (40.35 km/h)
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto                        0.09
3 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                   
4 Antonio Colom Mas (Spa) Team Katusha                       
5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C.                   0.28
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank                           0.33
7 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne           0.36

General classification after stage 3
1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana                      11.59.08
2 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi               0.09
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto                            
4 Antonio Colom Mas (Spa) Team Katusha                       
5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C.                   0.28
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank                           0.33
7 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne           0.36
Contador storms to stage, overall leadcyclingnews
Alberto Contador wins stage 3 of the Basque tour and takes over the lead from Sanchezvelonews
Stage 3 Photosuniversalsports
  Stage 3 Finish Part 1 (09:00)
  Stage 3 Finish Part 2 (link corrected) (05:34)
Alberto Contador geeft zijn visitekaartje afsporza.be
Stage 3 Photosofficial site
  Spectator Video on the finishing climb to Arrate: many of these Basque fans go to the Tour de France each year (01:28)

Stage 3 preview: Queen Stage coming up on Wednesday


steephill is now on Twitter with the latest race updates
April 7 update: Although, Vuelta al País Vasco is a hilly stage race, I consider stage 3 to be the only mountainous stage. With a field stacked of great climbers, there should a good mountaintop finish on Wednesday. The riders seemed to be holding back today in anticipation of the Queen Stage. By the way, I've revised the team rosters since I hadn't updated the provisional startlist with the inevitable last-minute changes. Also, tomorrow is an overlapping doubleheader with Gent-Wevelgem Live expected to finish one hour before the end of Vuelta al País Vasco... plenty of time to catch the semi-classic finish in Belgium and the mountaintop finish in Spain. If you check out the stage 3 course map (just redone) and you'll notice the stage finishes 50k from San Sebastian, site of a well-known classic race in August. — Steve

Pais Vasco: A Viewers Guide To Tomorrow's Queen Stagepodiumcafe
Precise Stage 3 Course Map (redone) (generated profile looks different from above)bikemap.net


Stage 2 results: The two man break succeeds; Yury Trofimov (Rus) of BBox Bouygues Telecom takes the win


Stage 2 results
1 Yury Trofimov (Rus) BBox Bouygues Telecom    4.12.46
2 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis                     0.06
3 Ben Swift (GBr) Team Katusha                    1.10
4 Michael Albasini (Swi) Team Columbia - Highroad     
5 Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne            
6 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C.             
7 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Team Milram                    
8 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step                        
9 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team Saxo Bank              
10 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C.
Full Resultscyclingnews
  Last 3 Km
Swift third in Pais Vascocyclingweekly.co.uk
Yury Trofimov (Bouygues Telecom) wins stage 2 in the Basque, as Sanchez retains the leadvelonews
Stage 2 Photosofficial site
Stage 2 photosuniversalsports
Trofimov se anota la segunda etapa, Luis León Sánchez sigue líderas

steephill is now on Twitter with the latest race updates

Stage maps for all stages now posted

April 7 update: Spanish race orgainzers aren't very good at providing stage maps, but bikemap.net has heeded my suggestion and put together their own so we now have nice interactive maps and profiles of all stages. See the 'map' links in the race summary table.

Stage 1 results: Luis León Sánchez of Caisse d'Epargne wins the 15 man sprint in Ataun


Stage 1 results
1 Luis Léon Sanchez Gil GCE 03u28'43'' 
2 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez EUS z.t 
3 Jérôme Pineau QST z.t 
4 Christian Knees MRM z.t 
5 Alexandr Kolobnev SAX z.t 
6 Joaquím Rodriguez Oliver GCE z.t 
7 Michael Rogers TCO z.t 
8 Vincenzo Nibali LIQ z.t 
9 Dries Devenyns QST z.t 
10 Cadel Evans SIL z.t 
11 Christopher Horner AST z.t 
12 Damiano Cunego LAM z.t 
13 Alberto Contador Velasco AST z.t 
14 Antonio Colom Mas KAT z.t 
15 Sandy Casar FDJ z.t 
16 Fränk Schleck SAX z.t 
17 David Lopez Garcia GCE z.t 
18 Robert Gesink RAB z.t 
Full Resultscyclingnews
  Last 4 Km (06:50)
Luis Leon Sanchez snelste sprinter in Baskenlandwielerflits.nl
Luis León Sánchez gana la primera etapa y se convierte en el primer líderas
  Climbing Alto de Lazkaomendi 10k from the line (06:50)
Stage 1 Photosofficial site

Race Preview

steephill is now on Twitter with the latest race updates
País Vasco: The Astana show continuescyclingnews
10 riders to watch at the Tour of the Basque Countryuniversalsports
Upcoming: Vuelta Pais Vasco, April 6-11europeloton

Provisional/Official Rosters now up

March 30 update: Official rosters with bib numbers and country sort option are now up (see right). Considering this event runs inbetween Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, the provisional rosters are very impressive.
Two ways to view the startlist:


March 27 update: The official route presentation:
Presentada la nueva Vuelta Al País Vascobiciciclismo

March 22 update: All stage profiles and timetables are now posted. See the race summary table (right). (Thanks Colin Flockton)


Feburary 7 update: The Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco is a cycling stage race held in the Basque Country, a cultural region shared between France and Spain, at the same time the classics are happening in northern Europe, giving riders (mainly climbers) an alternative to the cobbles and cold weather.

Known as the Tour of the Basque Country in English and Euskal Herriko Txirrindulari Itzulia in Basque, the six-day race was first held in 1935, while the modern version of the race took place for the first time in 1969. The race is now organised by the leading Basque newspaper Diario Vasco (official site) which holds a UCI ProTour licence through to 2012. This year's event runs from Monday, April 6th through Saturday, April 11th.

In 2008, Spain's Alberto Contador (Astana) pulled off a wire-to-wire victory at the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco. He took the first stage to Legazpi and then wrapped it up, in style, with a surprise 20 km TT win around Orio on the final day.

The route of the Vuelta Pais Vasco 2009 will again highlight the picturesque, hilly/mountainous Basque countryside and the coastal region. Stages are planned for Ataun, Villatuerta, Guenes, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Zalla.

Beijing Olympic gold medalist Samuel Sanchez and his local Basque Eusklatel team have the Vuelta al Pais Vasco placed on their list of major objectives for 2009. Last year's Tour de France champion, Carlos Sastre will also ride it for the new Cervelo Test Team and Alberto Contador has announced he will return to defend his title.

Thanks to steephill.tv European photo contributor, Colin Flockton, for submitting the route map for this year's event. He points out that the other Basque Country stage race, Euskal-Bizikleta, has merged with The Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco for 2009. — Steve and uci.ch

steephill is now on Twitter with the latest race updates
Check back for teams, team rosters, stage maps and profiles, worldwide tv schedules and live internet video as the race draws closer.
(Contador and Sanchez photos © steephill.tv/sirotti)


Alberto Contador surprised a lot of people at last year's Vuelta al País Vasco by winning the final day TT sealing up his wire-to-wire overall win.


The Official 2009 Route Map (mapa de la ruta/pista y etapas):