Vuelta al País Vasco Photos April 4 - 9

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After the steep climb and quick descent with 5 km to go, four riders had a good gap at the finish in Zumarraga. Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) and Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) battling for the line with RadioShack riders, Andreas Klöden and Chris Horner finishing 3rd and 4th	This photo looks familiar. Sammy Sanchez (right) needs to get more aggressive. He didn't try to gap the break on the descent and was looking around when he could have been first man through the final corner. Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) takes the win...	... but it was closer than he probably thought
Your stage 1 winner and race leader, Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)	Today's anticipated precipitation finally materialized; fans ducking for cover during the winner's celebration

Stage 2:  Zumarraga → Lekunberri, 167 km  Full Results and Report

Vasili Kiryienka (Movistar) celebrates a solo win while three of his Movistar join in from behind in the shaddows. Kiryienka escaped after the top of the steep final climb, the category one Alto de Azpiroz with 1.5 km from the finish.	It has been almost three year's since Vasili Kiryienka's last win — a stage at the 2008 Giro d'Italia

Stage 3:  Villatuerta → Zuia/Murgia, 177 km  Full Results and Report

Vino solos in after attacking on the final of three climbs with 4 km to go	The peloton, in the distance, rounding the final corner 8s back. A hot day in the Basque country with temperatures over 30C.	Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha, Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack, Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre - ISD finished 10th, 8th and 9th respectively. Notice the Yellow Jersey in the distance.
Your stage 3 winner, Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Pro Team Astana looks in fine form for the upcoming Ardenees classics	Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha is back in Yellow after finishing ahead of Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack	Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team leads the sprint classification
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team also leads the points classification	Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team leads the mountains classification

Stage 4:  Amurrio → Eibar (Arrate), 177 km  Full Results and Report

Spaniard Xavier Tondo (Movistar) signing-in at the start in Amurrio. We'll see him again later	Last year's overall winner, Chris Horner looking relaxed just 1s off the race lead heading into the final three stages	This morning's ribbon cutting ceremony on a beautiful morning in the Basque Country
The break led by HTC's Michael Albasini making it's first pass through the finish host, Eibar, with 70 km to go	Katusha's Vladimir Karpets at the front of the chase for race leader Joaquim Rodríguez followed by the Euskaltel-Euskadi team for Sammy Sanchez	The picturesque Basque landscape near the end of today's mountainous stage as provided by the great tv coverage
With big crowds on the cat 1 climbs, including Alto de Usartza (5,8 kms, avg 8,44%) near the finish, and the two helicopters in the air you could mistaken this for a Tour de France stage	Xavier Tondo (Movistar) leading the way with 100m to the top	With just a little gap, he could descend for the win
But, he's not digging hard enough because...	... Sammy Sanchez wants this stage win and is leading the GC group seconds back	Vino with his game face on digging deep
Beñat Intxausti (Movistar) obscuring Chris Horner (RadioShack)	Frank Scheck (Leopard-Trek) was with Tondo at the base of the final climb but blew before the top	Sammy Sanchez acknowledges the great Basque country fan support...
... before saluting his repeat win in Eibar and the second of the year for his Basque based Euskaltel-Euskadi team. The same time rule is ridiculous for mountain stages like this especially when there are no time bonuses — all the riders in this photo finished in the same time . No wonder the GC is so tight.	Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) retains his very slim race lead. With the final day time-trial looming, he should enjoy his time in Yellow while it lasts.

Stage 5:  Eibar → Zalla, 179 km  Full Results and Report

The jersey leaders at the start in Eibar, yesterday's finish host as well	The straight finish in Zalla	The mountain classification leader, Michael Albasini (Swi) HTC-Highroad extended his lead by winning the latter KOMs as part of this three man break.
The sprint classfication leader, Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank, working to bring the break back for Oscar Freire...	We have our first sprint finish at this year's race and it appears Oscar Freire (Rabobank) has won by a bike length ahead of Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre - ISD), right and Kristof Vandewalle (Quickstep), in the middle	Oscar Friere celebrates his apparent win
	Oscar Freire looks on with contempt as Francesco Gavazzi speaks to the race official after the race. As Cyclingnews reported, television helicopter images showed that both Freire and his teammate Luis Leon Sanchez took their hands off their bars inside the final kilometre to push aside other riders. Then in sight of the line, Sanchez pushed Freire forward before he started his sprint...	Here is the incriminating evidence of Luis Leon Sanchez taking his hands of the bars and pushing his teammate, Oscar Freire, into the clear.  Overhead footage of the finish — eitb.
The race judges awarded the victory to Francesco Gavazzi just as Oscar Freire was about to climb onto the podium to collect his flowers. This is the second year in a row, that Oscar Freire has been relegated after winning a sprint stage at Tour of the Basque Country.	Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team will win the sprint classification	Michael Albasini (Swi) HTC-Highroad is the mountain classification winner
'Purito' with little 'Purito' retains the race lead...	... but he's tied on time with Andreas Klöden (RadioShack) who is a much better time-trialer

Stage 6:  Zalla, 24 km ITT  Full Results and Report

Our photographer, Colin Flockton, parked himself outside someone's nice house along the TT route in Zalla	Tony Martin (HTC) set a time that wasn't beat. 24 km in 32:15.	The top Basque rider was Beñat Intxausti (Movistar) 11th (+ 1:03)
Robert Gesink (Rabobank) laid down a time that got him onto the podium. 7th (+ 0:53)	Chris Horner (RadioShack) wasn't as good this year at Tour of the Basque Country, but his 9th place performance (+ 0:55) moved him from 4th to 2nd.	Andreas Klöden (RadioShack) was just behind Tony Martin's time for 2nd (+ 0:05) which was easily the best time among the GC contenders
Your stage 6 winner, Tony Martin (HTC) adds another ITT win to his palmares	2nd today and your overall winner. "The time trial went so well ," said a happy Klöden. "Johan Bruyneel and José Azevedo coached me so well in the following car. They had the split times of Tony Martin. I started very fast and the climb went very well for me. I could keep my good pace till the end. Perfect." (Cyclingnews)	2011 overall: 2nd Chris Horner (RadioShack) + 0:47, 1st Andreas Klöden (RadioShack) 22:12:11 and 3rd Robert Gesink (Rabobank) + 0:47
This is the second year in a row that Chris Horner has failed to pop his cork on the final day at Tour of the Basque Country	Your winner, his prizes (the trophy and the great hat) and a panoramic of the crowd all in one shot. (Spot Robert Gesink's expresssion in the trophy reflection)	The sweet taste of victory, Klöden's first stage race title since 2008
	And it was 11 years ago that Klöden last won here	Klöden also wins the points competition
Beñat Intxausti (Movistar) was the top Basque rider, just missing the podium, 4th overall +1:03	Movistar was the top team, something for the Spanish to cheer about...	... the rest of the time
"It was a very hard week. There were a lot of climbs and so many attacks," said Klöden after the race. " It’s unbelievable really that I’ve won here again after 11 years. But it shows what can happen. You need to be strong mentally and have a nice team. Without the team it’s not possible. My team was always in the race and looking out for me. I want to say thank you to my team." (Cyclingnews)