Itzulia Basque Country 2011 Live Dashboard
Race Info, Preview, Live Video, Results, Photos and Highlights

It was 11 years ago that Andreas Klöden (RadioShack) last won Tour of the Basque Country and this is his first overall win since 2008. (Spot Robert Gesink in the trophy reflection)
More photos:

19 Big Photos from the Stage 6 ITT and Podium — flockton/reuters

Monday, April 4

150 km

Zumarraga → Zumarraga

Tuesday, April 5

167 km

Zumarraga → Lekunberri

Wednesday, April 6

177 km

Villatuerta → Zuia/Murgia

Thursday, April 7

177 km

Amurrio → Eibar (Arrate)

Friday, April 8

179 km

Eibar → Zalla

Saturday, April 9

24 km

Zalla

Total Distance

874 km

2011 Itzulia Basque Country Teams

Team Rosters and ~~Withdrawals~~

Group riders by: or

RADIOSHACK (RSH)
(USA)

1	HORNER Christopher	USA
2	KLÖDEN Andreas	GER
3	LEIPHEIMER Levi	USA
4	MCCARTNEY Jason	USA
5	PAULINHO Sergio Miguel Moreira	POR
6	IRIZAR ARANBURU Markel	ESP
7	BUSCHE Matthew	USA
8	ROVNY Ivan	RUS

HTC-HIGHROAD (THR)
(USA)

11	MARTIN Tony	GER
12	PINOTTI Marco	ITA
13	ALBASINI Michael	SUI
14	FAIRLY Caleb	USA
15	SIVTSOV Kanstantsin	BLR
16	LEWIS Craig	USA
17	VAN GARDEREN Tejay	USA
18	PATE Danny	USA

RABOBANK (RAB)
(NED)

21	FREIRE GOMEZ Oscar	ESP
22	GESINK Robert	NED
23	SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon	ESP
24	GARATE Juan Manuel	ESP
25	NIERMANN Grischa	GER
26	BARREDO LLAMAZALES Carlos	ESP
27	MARTENS Paul	GER
28	TANKINK Bram	NED

BMC RACING (BMC)
(USA)

31	KOHLER Martin	SUI
32	SANTAROMITA Ivan	ITA
33	FRANK Mathias	SUI
34	SANTAMBROGIO Mauro	ITA
35	ROE Thimothy	AUS
36	BUTLER Chris	USA
37	TSCHOPP Johann	SUI
38	MOINARD Amaël	FRA

SKY (SKY)
(GBR)

41	ROGERS Michael	AUS
42	URAN URAN Rigoberto	COL
43	ZANDIO ECHAIDE Xabier	ESP
44	LÖVKVIST Thomas	SWE
45	CUMMINGS Stephen	GBR
46	GERRANS Simon	AUS
47	NORDHAUG Lars Petter	NOR
48	KNEES Christian	GER

LAMPRE - ISD (LAM)
(ITA)

51	CUNEGO Damiano	ITA
52	PEREZ ARRIETA Aitor	ESP
53	GAVAZZI Francesco	ITA
54	BALLONI Alfredo	ITA
55	BONO Matteo	ITA
56	NIEMIEC Przemyslaw	POL
57	MAGAZZINI Enrico	ITA
58	KOSTYUK Denys	UKR

LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE (LIQ)
(ITA)

61	BASSO Ivan	ITA
62	BELLOTTI Francesco	ITA
63	CARUSO Damiano	ITA
64	LONGO BORGHINI Paolo	ITA
65	FINETTO Mauro	ITA
66	NERZ Dominik	GER
67	PONZI Simone	ITA
68	PATERSKI Maciej	POL

OMEGA PHARMA-LOTTO (OLO)
(BEL)

71	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen	BEL
72	PUJOL MUNOZ Oscar	ESP
73	VAN DE WALLE Jurgen	BEL
75	DOCKX Gert	BEL
76	LLOYD Matthew	AUS
77	VANENDERT Jelle	BEL
78	VEIKKANEN Jussi	FIN

GARMIN-CERVELO (GRM)
(USA)

81	VANDEVELDE Christian	USA
82	HESJEDAL Ryder	CAN
83	LE MEVEL Christophe	FRA
84	DANIELSON Thomas	USA
85	FISCHER Murilo Antonio	BRA
86	MARTIN Daniel	IRL
87	PETERSON Thomas	USA
88	TALANSKY Andrew	USA

LEOPARD-TREK (LEO)
(LUX)

91	SCHLECK Andy	LUX
92	SCHLECK Frank	LUX
93	VOIGT Jens	GER
94	FUGLSANG Jakob	DEN
95	DENIFL Stefan	AUT
96	MONFORT Maxime	BEL
97	LUND Anders	DEN
98	WEGMANN Fabian	GER

AG2R LA MONDIALE (ALM)
(FRA)

101	NOCENTINI Rinaldo	ITA
102	PERAUD Jean-Christophe	FRA
103	CHEREL Mikael	FRA
104	CHAMPION Dimitri	FRA
105	GADRET John	FRA
106	MONTAGUTI Matteo	ITA
107	LELAY David	FRA
108	PERGET Mathieu	FRA

EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI (EUS)
(ESP)

111	SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel	ESP
112	URTASUN PEREZ Pablo	ESP
113	TXURRUKA Amets	ESP
114	MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN Egoi	ESP
115	VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI Gorka	ESP
116	ISASI FLORES Inaki	ESP
117	VELASCO MURILLO Ivan	ESP
118	OROZ UGALDE Juan Jose	ESP

KATUSHA (KAT)
(RUS)

121	RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin	ESP
122	DI LUCA Danilo	ITA
123	KARPETS Vladimir	RUS
124	KOLOBNEV Alexandr	RUS
125	CARUSO Giampaolo	ITA
126	MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel	ESP
127	LOSADA ALGUACIL Alberto	ESP
128	VORGANOV Eduard	RUS

MOVISTAR (MOV)
(ESP)

131	ARROYO DURAN David	ESP
132	BRUSEGHIN Marzio	ITA
133	LOPEZ GARCIA David	ESP
134	INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA Benat	ESP
135	TONDO VOLPINI Xavier	ESP
136	GARCIA ACOSTA José Vicente	ESP
137	MADRAZO RUIZ Angel	ESP
138	KIRYIENKA Vasili	BLR

VACANSOLEIL-DCM (VCD)
(NED)

141	CARRARA Matteo	ITA
142	HOOGERLAND Johnny	NED
143	POELS Wouter	NED
144	GOLAS Michal	POL
145	LAGUTIN Sergey	UZB
146	BELKOV Maxim	RUS
148	ANZA Santo	ITA

ASTANA (AST)
(KAZ)

151	VINOKOUROV Alexandre	KAZ
152	GASPAROTTO Enrico	ITA
153	JUFRE POU Josep	ESP
154	DI GREGORIO Rémy	FRA
155	KESSIAKOFF Fredrik	SWE
156	FOFONOV Dmitriy	KAZ
157	IGLINSKIY Maxim	KAZ
158	RENEV Sergey	KAZ

SAXO BANK SUNGARD (SBS)
(DEN)

161	PORTE Richie	AUS
162	SÖRENSEN Nicki	DEN
163	SÖRENSEN Chris	DEN
164	STEENSEN André	DEN
165	VANDBORG Brian	DEN
166	BOARO Manuele	ITA
167	CHRISTENSEN Mads	DEN
168	DIDIER Laurent	LUX

QUICKSTEP (QST)
(BEL)

171	PINEAU Jérôme	FRA
172	ENGELS Addy	NED
173	CATALDO Dario	ITA
174	BANDIERA Marco	ITA
175	REDA Francesco	ITA
176	VANDEWALLE Kristof	BEL
177	SEELDRAEYERS Kevin	BEL
178	VERMOTE Julien	BEL

GEOX-TMC (GEO)
(ESP)

181	DUARTE AREVALO Fabio Andres	COL
182	ARDILA CANO Mauricio	COL
183	GIANETTI Noe	SUI
184	DE LA FUENTE RASILLA David	ESP
185	VALLS FERRI Rafael	ESP
186	COBO ACEBO Juan Jose	ESP
187	FELLINE Fabio	ITA
188	RATTO Daniele	ITA

CAJA RURAL (CJR)
(ESP)

191	CUESTA LOPEZ DE CASTRO Inigo	ESP
192	GALDOS ALONSO Aitor	ESP
193	SANCHEZ PIMIENTA Julian	ESP
194	HERRADA LOPEZ José	ESP
195	MORENO BAZAN Javier	ESP
196	GARCIA ECHEGUIBEL Egoitz	ESP
197	FERNANDEZ Higinio	ESP
198	BRAVO OIARBIDE Garikoitz	ESP

Printable Startlist

News and Updates for Itzulia Basque Country 2011

Stage 6 ITT: Andreas Kloden (RadioShack) finishes 2nd behind the ITT winner Tony Martin and easily wins the overall; another ITT diseaster for Joaquim Rodríguez who slips from first to 11th

19 Big Photos from Stage 6 — flockton/reuters

Stage 6 results
1  Tony Martin (HTC)                        32:15
2  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)             + 0:05
3  Marco Pinotti (HTC)                     + 0:24
4  Jacob Fuglsang (Leopard-Trek)           + 0:29
5  Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Cervélo)        + 0:42
6  Maxime Monfort (Leopard-Trek)           + 0:48
7  Robert Gesink (Rabobank)                + 0:53
8  Richie Porte (Saxo Bank)                
9  Chris Horner (RadioShack)               + 0:55
10 Vasil Kiryienka (Movistar)              + 1:00
11 Beñat Intxausti (Movistar)              + 1:03
12 Xavier Tondo (Movistar)                 + 1:06
13 Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)      + 1:17
14 Tejay Van Garderen (HTC)                + 1:19
15 Alexander Vinokourov (Astana)           + 1:30

Final general classification
1  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)           22:12:11
2  Chris Horner (RadioShack)               + 0:47
3  Robert Gesink (Rabobank) 
4  Beñat Intxausti (Movistar)              + 1:03
5  Xavier Tondo (Movistar) 
6  Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)      + 1:08
7  David López (Movistar)                  + 1:28
8  Alexander Vinokourov (Astana)           + 1:41
9  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo)         + 1:49
10 Vasil Kiryienka (Movistar)              + 1:54
11 Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)             + 1:59

Klöden and Martin dominate closing time trial — cyclingnews

Andreas Klöden takes overall title at Tour of the Basque Country as Tony Martin wins final TT — velonews
Stage 6 Final ITT Riders (12:00 Spanish) — canalvasco

Stage 6 Winning Rides (01:38 Ambient Noise, U.S. only) — universalsports

Stage 6 [Another] Bad Time Trial for Rodriguez (01:42 English, U.S. only) — universalsports

Stage 6 Andreas Kloden (03:14 English, U.S. only) — universalsports

Stage 6 Chris Horner (03:14 English, U.S. only) — universalsports

19 Big Photos from Stage 6 — flockton/reuters

Klöden, el triunfo de un superviviente en la Vuelta al País Vasco — diariovasco

Stage 6 preview: Zalla, 24 km (TT)

April 9 update: Without time bonuses or time gaps between the top GC contenders on the five stages so far, we have three riders in a virtual tie for the race lead and Chris Horner in 4th just one second back. As you can see from the current GC shown just below, any of ten riders could win the overall. Similar to last year's final ITT which Chris Horner won, stage 6 will be a hilly, technical course and exactly the same length at 24 km.
See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable. — Steve

General Classification heading into the decisive ITT
1  Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)           
2  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)   
3  Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)   
4  Chris Horner (RadioShack)               + 0:01
5  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo)         + 0:06
6  Xavier Tondo (Movistar)   
7  Robert Gesink (Rabobank)   
8  David López (Movistar)   
9  Beñat Intxausti (Movistar)              + 0:09
10 Alexander Vinokourov (Astana)           + 0:10

ITT Start Order and Times — biciciclismo

Stage 6 start time: Saturday 14:00 CET (12:00:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Zalla, Spain
Earliest live video: 16:00 CET (2:00:00 PM GMT+0000); Live/delayed coverage options
Approximate finish: 17:25 CET (3:25:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Zalla, Spain

Stage 5: Oscar Freire relegated in Pais Vasco for the second year in a row, Francisco Gavazzi awarded the win. No change on GC heading into the TT

Stage 5 results
1  Oscar Freire (Rabobank)  
1  Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre - ISD            4:27:03   
2  Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Quickstep    
3  John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale      
4  Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM      
5  Egoitz Garcia Echeguibel (Spa) Caja Rural      
6  Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar Team      
7  Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo      
8  Damiano Caruso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale      
9  Christopher Horner (USA) Team RadioShack      
10 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi

Full/Official Stage 4 Results — diariovasco

Full/Official General Classification after Stage 4 — diariovasco

Stage 5 results and report — cyclingnews

Stage 5 Highlights (01:52 Ambient Noise, U.S. only) — universalsports

13 Big Photos from Stage 5 (more photos added) — reuters/flockton
Stage 5 Last 6 Kms (10:00 Spanish) — canalvasco

Stage 5 Highlights w/ disqualification footage (04:03 English, U.S. only) — universalsports

Overhead footage of the finish — eitb

A Freire le birlan el triunfo en la Vuelta al País Vasco — vueltapaisvasco.diariovasco

Stage 5 preview: Eibar → Zalla, 179 km (hilly)

April 8 update: I guess we can call stage 5 a medium mountain stage given that there are seven categorized climbs; however, the difficult climbs are in the first half. The last half of the race will meander around the finish host Zalla which isn't too difficult terrain-wise. It's unlikely that the cat 3 climb 12 km from the finish will do much to shake up the tight GC. Without time bonuses or time gaps on the three descent finishes so far, we have three riders in a virtual tie for the race lead and Chris Horner in 4th just one second back.
See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable. — Steve

Stage 5 start time: Friday 12:45 CET (10:45:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Eibar, Spain
Earliest live video: 15:30 CET (1:30:00 PM GMT+0000); Live/delayed coverage options
Approximate finish: 17:13 CET (3:13:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Zalla, Spain

Stage 4 results: Sammy Sánchez wins in Eibar for the second straight year

Stage 4 results
1  Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)     4:42:37
2  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)   
3  Alexander Vinokourov (Astana)   
4  Joaquim Rodríguez (Movistar)   
5  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo)   
6  Xavier Tondo (Movistar)   
7  Chris Horner (RadioShack)   
8  Robert Gesink (Rabobank)   
9  Beñat Intxausti (Movistar)   
10 David López (Movistar)   
11 Andy Schleck (Leopard-Trek)   
12 Chris Sorensen (Saxo Bank-SunGard)      + 0:32

General Classification after Stage 4
1  Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)           17:12:46
2  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)   
3  Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)   
4  Chris Horner (RadioShack)               + 0:01
5  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo)         + 0:06
6  Xavier Tondo (Movistar)   
7  Robert Gesink (Rabobank)   
8  David López (Movistar)   
9  Beñat Intxausti (Movistar)              + 0:09
10 Alexander Vinokourov (Astana)           + 0:10
11 Andy Schleck (Leopard-Trek)             + 0:18
12 Vasil Kiryienka (Movistar)              + 1:03

Full/Official Stage 4 Results — diariovasco

Full/Official General Classification after Stage 4 — diariovasco

Sanchez prevails in Eibar — cyclingnews

Samuel Sánchez wins tough Basque stage; Chris Horner fourth, Ryder Hesjedal fifth overall — velonews

Samuel Sánchez vence en Arrate y 'Purito' Rodríguez sigue líder en la Vuelta al País Vasco — diariovasco

Damiano Cunego abandons Vuelta al Pais Vasco — velonation
Stage 4 Last 5 Kms (15:00 Spanish) — canalvasco

17 Big Photos from Stage 4 (more to come) — flockton/reuters

Stage 3 Finish (04:02 English) — universalsports

Stage 4 preview: Amurrio → Eibar, 177 km (Mountain)

April 7 update: The Queen Stage, like in previous editions of this race, will finish in Eibar, one of the major industrial cities in the Basque country. This is always brutal stage regardless of where it starts, but this year is particularly tough because over the finah half of this 177 km stage, there are seven catgorized climbs including 2 cat 3s, 3 cat 2s and 2 cat 1s. Last year, Sammy Sanchez won in Eibar and in 2009 Alberto Contador won here with the top 10 spread out by about 50s both years at the descent finish in Eibar.

The Queen Stage seven categorized climbs:
Km. 85,4 Alto de Kanpazar (cat 2) 3,4 kms, avg 6,09%
Km. 118 Alto de Karabieta (cat 2) 4,6 kms, avg 8,48%
Km. 129,3 Alto de Miota (cat 3) 3 kms, avg 3,17%
Km. 136,2 Alto de Areitio (cat 3) 2,3 kms, avg 5,78%
Km. 148,3 Alto de Ixua (cat 1) 4,8 kms, avg 8,44%
Km. 158,8 Alto de San Miguel (cat 2) 4,8 kms, avg 5,63%
Km. 177,6 Alto de Usartza (cat 1) 5,8 kms, avg 8,44%
See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable. — Steve

Stage 4 start time: Thursday 12:50 CET (10:50:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Amurrio, Spain
Earliest live video: 15:30 CET (1:30:00 PM GMT+0000); Live/delayed coverage options
Approximate finish: 17:30 CET (3:30:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Eibar, Arrate

Stage 3 results: Vino spoils the only chance for the sprinters with a solo win in Zuia/Murgia

Stage 3 results
1  Alexandr Vinokourov (Astana)      4:20:37
2  Oscar Freire (Rabobank)            + 0:08
3  Paul Martens (Rabobank)   
4  Pim Ligthart (Vacansoleil)   
5  Mikael Cherel (AG2R)   
6  Egoitz García (Caja Rural)   
7  Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre-ISD)   
8  Chris Horner (RadioShack)   
9  Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha)   
10 Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)     

General Classification after Stage 3
1  Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)     12:30:09
2  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)   
3  Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)   
4  Chris Horner (RadioShack)         + 0:01
5  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo)   + 0:06
6  Xavier Tondo (Movistar)   
7  Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD)   
8  David López (Movistar)   
9  Robert Gesink (Rabobank)   
10 Beñat Intxausti (Movistar)        + 0:09

Full/Official Stage 3 Results — diariovasco

Full/Official General Classification after Stage 3 — diariovasco

Vinokourov solos to stage 3 win — cyclingnews

Vinokourov pasa al ataque en la Vuelta al País Vasco y vence en Murgia — diariovasco

Basso quits the Vuelta a Pais Vasco — cyclingnews

8 Big Photos from Stage 3 — flockton

Stage 3 Finish (01:43 Ambient Noise, U.S. only) — universalsports
Stage 3 Last 5 Kms (11:57 Spanish) — canalvasco

More Stage 3 Photos — diariovasco

Stage 3 preview: Villatuerta → Zuia/Murgia, 177 km (rolling)

April 6 update: This is the easiest of the road stages with just three categorized climbs and nothing more than a cat 2 as the peloton heads northwest to the finish in Zuia/Murgia. There aren't many sprinters at this race, but Oscar Freire (Rabobank) is here so he'll be the heavy favorite.
See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable. — Steve

Stage 3 start time: Wednesday 12:50 CET (10:50:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Villatuerta, Spain
Earliest live video: 15:30 CET (1:30:00 PM GMT+0000); Live/delayed coverage options
Approximate finish: 17:15 CET (3:15:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Zuia/Murgia, Spain

Stage 2 results: Vasili Kiryienka (Movistar) wins for the first time in three years

Stage 2 results
1  Vasili Kiryienka (Movistar)                4:06:39
2  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)                 + 0:02
3  Andy Schleck (Leopard-Trek) 
4  Chris Sorensen (Saxo Bank-SunGard) 
5  Chris Horner (RadioShakck) 
6  Jurgen van den Broeck (Omega Pharma-Lotto) 
7  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo) 
8  Frank Schleck (Leopard-Trek) 
9  Fabio Duarte (Geox-TMC) 
10 Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)  

General Classification after Stage 2
1  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)               8:09:23
2  Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)   
3  Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)   
4  Chris Horner (RadioShack)                  + 0:01 
5  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo)            + 0:06
6  David López (Movistar)   
7  Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD)   
8  Xavier Tondo (Movistar)   
9  Robert Gesink (Rabobank)   
10 Beñat Intxausti (Movistar)

Full/Official Stage 2 Results — diariovasco

Full/Official General Classification after Stage 2 — diariovasco

Kiryienka escapes for solo victory — cyclingnews

Kiryienka ends long drought with Basque stage — reuters

2 Big Photos from Stage 2 — reuters
Stage 2 Last 6 Kms (14:55 English) — eurosport

Stage 2 Highlights (03:57 English, U.S. only) — universalsports

Kiryenka gana la segunda etapa de la Vuelta al País Vasco tras un descenso vertiginoso — diariovasco

Stage 2 preview: Zumarraga → Lekunberri, 167 km (Mountain)

April 4 update: Like Stage 1, Stage 2 will have seven categorized climbs but two of the them will be categorized 1 whereas stage 1 didn't have anything above a cat 2. The last cat 1 will crest just several km from the flat finish in Lekunberri.
See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable. — Steve

Stage 2 start time: Tuesday 13:05 CET (11:05:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Zumarraga, Spain
Earliest live video: 15:30 CET (1:30:00 PM GMT+0000); Live/delayed coverage options
Approximate finish: 17:15 CET (3:15:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Lekunberri, Spain

Stage 1: Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) wins a climber's bunch sprint after descending into Zumarraga

4 Big Photos from Stage 1 — reuters

Stage 1 results
1  Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)         4:02:42
2  Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
3  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)
4  Chris Horner (RadioShack)            + 0:01
5  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo)      + 0:06
6  Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) 
7  David López (Movistar) 
8  Robert Gesink (Rabobank) 
9  Danilo Di Luca (Katusha) 
10 Xavier Tondo (Movistar)

Full/Official Stage 1 Results — diariovasco

Full/Official General Classification after Stage 1 — diariovasco

Rodriguez victorious in Zumarraga — cyclingnews

Horner keeps GC hopes alive in wild Basque opener — velonews

'Purito' Rodríguez vence a Samuel Sánchez en la primera etapa de la Vuelta al País Vasco — diariovasco

4 Big Photos from Stage 1 — reuters
Stage 1 Last 6 Kms (14:01 Spanish) — canalvasco

More Stage 1 Photos — david gimenez

Stage 1 Highlights (03:12 English, U.S. only) — universalsports
One Minute Highlights (01:00 English, restricted to Europe) — eurosport

The leaders going over the steep climb near the finish — diariovasco

Stage 1 preview: Zumarraga → Zumarraga, 150 km (Mountain)

April 3 update: This is a medium mountainous loop starting and finishing in Zumarraga featuring seven cat 3 or cat 2 climbs in the interior region. This stage profile should suit Samuel Sánchez who appears to have good form after winning Gran Premio Miguel Indurain on Saturday and a good showing at Paris-Nice last month.

The field for this race is one of the strongest for a stage race this year and we know the Basque roads are always interesting so it should be a good race. Here are some of the GC names to watch for: Samuel Sánchez, Joaquim Rodríguez, Ivan Basso, Andy and Frank Schleck, Tony Martin, Robert Gesink, Chris Horner, Andreas Kloden, Levi Leipheimer, Damiano Cunego, Michael Rogers, Rigoberto Urán, Jurgen Van den Broeck, Daniel Martin, Ryder Hesjedal, Christian Vandevelde, Alexandre Vinokourov, Belat Intxausti, Richie Porte, Jean-Christophe Peraud, Juan José Cobo and Fabio Duarte.
See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable. — Steve

Stage 1 start time: Monday 13:30 CET (11:30:00 AM GMT+0000); Weather for Zumarraga, Spain
Earliest live video: 15:30 CET (1:30:00 PM GMT+0000); Live/delayed coverage options
Approximate finish: 17:14 CET (3:14:00 PM GMT+0000); Weather for Zumarraga, Spain

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

2011 Tour of the Basque Country Previews

April 3 update:

Official startlist with bib numbers — steephill.tv

Sanchez primed for Tour of the Basque Country — afp

Sastre out of Vuelta al Pais Vasco with bronchial problems — cyclingnews

April 2 update:
Basso feeling confident heading into Vuelta al Pais Vasco — velonation
Damiano Cunego to return for Vuelta al Pais Vasco — velonation
Sanchez on track for Pais Vasco — cyclingnews
Levi Leipheimer hopes to be back for Basque Country — velonews
Carlos Sastre, baja por una infección pulmonar — adn.es

March 29 update:
Chris Horner earns No. 1 start bib at Tour of Basque Country — velonews

2011 Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco Race Preview

February 28 update: The 2011 route was announced today. Stage hosts, profiles and timetables for all stages are now posted. Ivan Basso, The Schleck brothers and Sammy Sanchez are expected to partake. More to come.

Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco is a 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 4th through Saturday, April 9th — Steve
Samuel Sánchez: «Mi futuro nunca va más allá de mañana» — diariovasco
La Vuelta al País Vasco comenzará en Zumarraga y terminará en Zalla — eitb

2011 Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco Route Map

no official route map has been published yet

En Directo: Live Video Streaming and TV Coverage

April 7 update: Your 2011 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 (spanish) tv schedule	Spanish; daily broadcast at 15:30 CET.
	live video (italian) live video (italian) tv schedule	Italian;
	live video (english) live video (english) live audio (english) tv schedule (british)	live at 15:45 CET; Audio languages: EN \| FR \| DE \| ES \| IT
	live video (spanish) tv schedule	Spanish; Teledeporte feed; Delayed video for stage 1 at 18:15 CET.
	live video (basque) tv schedule	Free worldwide; Spanish; daily broadcast at 15:55 CET.
	live video ($) tv schedule (see comments)	North America only?; Online: Monday, April 4 - Friday, April 8 9:45 am - 11:30 am ET and Saturday, April 9 10:15 am - 12:00 pm ET. TV: Monday, April 4 - Saturday, April 9 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm ET
	live video (french) tv schedule	France and Europe satellites; Tour du Pays Basque live each day at 16:00 CEST with rebroadcasts
	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 will also has the latest race updates
	steephill text updates #paisvasco twitter group	short text updates from any and everyone
check back at race time for more and updated links; send a comment or a new live link

News and Updates for Itzulia Basque Country 2011

Stage 6 ITT: Andreas Kloden (RadioShack) finishes 2nd behind the ITT winner Tony Martin and easily wins the overall; another ITT diseaster for Joaquim Rodríguez who slips from first to 11th

Stage 6 preview: Zalla, 24 km (TT)

Stage 5: Oscar Freire relegated in Pais Vasco for the second year in a row, Francisco Gavazzi awarded the win. No change on GC heading into the TT

Stage 5 preview: Eibar → Zalla, 179 km (hilly)

Stage 4 results: Sammy Sánchez wins in Eibar for the second straight year

Stage 4 preview: Amurrio → Eibar, 177 km (Mountain)

Stage 3 results: Vino spoils the only chance for the sprinters with a solo win in Zuia/Murgia

Stage 3 preview: Villatuerta → Zuia/Murgia, 177 km (rolling)

Stage 2 results: Vasili Kiryienka (Movistar) wins for the first time in three years

Stage 2 preview: Zumarraga → Lekunberri, 167 km (Mountain)

Stage 1: Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) wins a climber's bunch sprint after descending into Zumarraga

Stage 1 preview: Zumarraga → Zumarraga, 150 km (Mountain)

2011 Tour of the Basque Country Previews

2011 Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco Race Preview

2011 Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco Route Map

En Directo: Live Video Streaming and TV Coverage

2010 Itzulia Basque Country Archived Coverage

2009 Itzulia Basque Country Archived Coverage

News and Updates for Itzulia Basque Country 2011

Stage 6 ITT: Andreas Kloden (RadioShack) finishes 2nd behind the ITT winner Tony Martin and easily wins the overall; another ITT diseaster for Joaquim Rodríguez who slips from first to 11th

Stage 5: Oscar Freire relegated in Pais Vasco for the second year in a row, Francisco Gavazzi awarded the win. No change on GC heading into the TT

Stage 4 results: Sammy Sánchez wins in Eibar for the second straight year

Stage 3 results: Vino spoils the only chance for the sprinters with a solo win in Zuia/Murgia

Stage 2 results: Vasili Kiryienka (Movistar) wins for the first time in three years

Stage 1: Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) wins a climber's bunch sprint after descending into Zumarraga

2011 Tour of the Basque Country Previews

En Directo: Live Video Streaming and TV Coverage permalink("#live");

En Directo: Live Video Streaming and TV Coverage