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Itzulia Basque Country 2012 Live Dashboard
Race Info, Preview, Live Video, Results, Photos and Highlights
Race Info, Preview, Live Video, Results, Photos and Highlights
 This year's Tour of the Basque Country has turned into the Joaquim Rodriguez and Sammy Sanchez show with the two riders taking the last four stages and the top GC spots.  Big Photos from 2012 through the first five stages — flockton/reuters Big Photos from 2011 — flockton/reuters |
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News and Updates for Itzulia Basque Country 2012
24 Big Photos from Stage 6 — colinflockton
Full/Official Stage 6 Results and Final General Classification — diariovasco
Sanchez scoops Vuelta al Pais Vasco win with blazing time trial
— velonationSanchez wins Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
— cyclingnewsSamuel Sanchezek Itzulia eta erlojupekoa irabazi ditu Oñatin
— eitb 24 Big Photos from Stage 6 — colinflocktonApril 6 update: Stage 6 is a rolling ITT but not as hilly as previous years. Kudos for the race organizers for designing a stage race that ends in a ITT where the outcome is very much in doubt. Check out the top 18 on GC below to give you an idea of how wide open this race still is. See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable. — Steve
Stage 6 ITT Start Order and Times (CET, subtract 6 hrs for ET) — biciciclismoStage 5 results: Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) wins a duel against Sammy Sanchez after a tough, miserable stage
29 Big Photos from Stage 5 (more photos added) — colinflockton/reutersRodriguez powers to stage 5 win
— cyclingnewsSecond win for Rodriguez, who holds lead — velonationJoaquim Rodríguez vuelve a ganar por delante de Samuel Sánchez — eitb 29 Big Photos from Stage 5 (more photos added) — colinflockton/reutersApril 6 update: A mix of cat 3 and cat 2 climbs before the
Stage 4 results: As expected, Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) wins the 18% finish on Alto de Ibardin and becomes the new race leader
33 Big Photos from Stage 4 — colinflocktonFull/Official Stage 4 Results and General Classification — diariovascoRodriguez wins steep uphill battle to take stage 4 victory
— cyclingnewsJoaquim Rodríguez gana en Ibardin y se enfunda el maillot de líder — eitbJoaquim Rodriguez solos to Pais Vasco stage win and race lead
— velonation 33 Big Photos from Stage 4 — colinflocktonOnly one dream left for Sanchez after Basque Country victory
— cyclingnewsApril 5 update: Stage 4 is a hilly stage that ends with category 1 uphill finish (max 18%) which Katusha's Joaquin Rodriguez should win and don the race leader's jersey. The finishing Ibardin climb is actually done twice although the first pass is listed as a cat 2 since a steep section has been added for the finish. See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable. — Steve
Stage 3 results: Sammy Sanchez wins for the third straight year in Eibar-Arrate
18 Big Photos from Stage 3 — colinflocktonFull/Official Stage 3 Results and General Classification — diariovascoSanchez holds off Rodriguez and Horner for stage 3 win
— cyclingnewsSanchez sprints to victory on mountainous third stage
— velonationSamuel Sánchez gana la etapa reina y es el nuevo líder — eitbSánchez scores hat trick at Arrate; Horner in contention at Basque Country — velonews 18 Big Photos from Stage 3 — colinflockton More Stage 3 Photos — biciciclismo
Brief Stage 3 Highlights — rtve.es
April 3 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 a brutal stage regardless of where it starts, Vitoria-Gasteiz this year. There are seven catgorized climbs ending with the usual Alto de Ixua, Alto de San Miguel and Alto de Usartza combination before a short, twisty descent finish which appears to have been shortened from 2.5 km to 1.5 km this year. Sammy Sanchez has won this stage the last two years (see banner photo at the top of the page). See the race summary table (right) for the stage profile, map and timetable. — Steve
Last three of the seven categorized climbs:
Km. 135 Alto de Ixua (cat 1) 4,8 kms, avg 8,44%
Km. 145 Alto de San Miguel (cat 2) 4,8 kms, avg 5,63%
Km. 164 Alto de Usartza (cat 1) 5,8 kms, avg 8,44%
Stage 2 results: Daryl Impey (GreenEdge) rides off the front of the peloton with 1 km to go and holds on for the win
12 Big Photos of the finish and podium from Stage 2 — colinflocktonFull/Official Stage 2 Results and General Classification — diariovascoImpey holds off peloton for stage 2 win after last lap flier
— cyclingnewsImpey attacks to take Pais Vasco stage two
— cyclingweekly.co.ukDaryl Impey takes Vuelta a Pais Vasco stage two with final kilometre attack
— velonationImpey roba la cartera a los esprinters en Vitoria — eitb 12 Big Photos of the finish and podium from Stage 2 — colinflockton More Stage 2 Photos — diariovasco More Stage 2 Photos — biciciclismoStage 2 is also a bumpy stage with a bunch of cat 3 climbs before a descending then flat finish. Rain is forecasted. For more stage details, see the stage profile, map and timetable in the race summary table (right). — Steve
Stage 1 results: Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) squeezes through for the win in Gueñes
1 Big Photos of the finish from Stage 1 — reutersSpanish champion Rojas wins opening stage — velonationRojas wins stage 1 at Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
— cyclingnews Stage 1 Photos — biciciclismo 1 Big Photos of the finish from Stage 1 — reuters
A bumpy stage that should end in a sprint finish although in 2009 Michael Albasini, the recent Volta a Cataluyna winner, won in Gueñes from a three man break (photo above). The former Highroad now GreenEdge rider is on the startlist again this year. For more stage details, see the stage profile, map and timetable in the race summary table (right). — Steve
2012 Tour of the Basque Country Preview
April 1 update:
Vuelta al País Vasco is sacred to cycling fans in Spain’s Basque Country
(Race Preview) — velonewsOfficial 2012 startlist now posted — steephillLeipheimer hit by car, out of Vuelta al Pais Vasco
— velonation
March 14 update: The 2012 route was officially announced last week after the event was rescued from threatened cancellation due to lack of funding which has been resolved. Stage hosts, profiles and timetables for all stages are now posted. See the race summary table (right). As usual a strong field is expected.
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 2th through Saturday, April 7th — Steve
March 6 update:
Basque races rescued by Spanish bank — cyclingnews
Basque Country tour and Clásica saved by final-hour sponsor
— velonews
February 17 update:
2012 Vuelta al Paîs Vasco looks to continue tradition of tough racing
(from Nov 2011) — velonews
 
Also follow steephill on Twitter for the latest race info and video updates. |
En Directo: Live Video Streaming and TV Coverage
April 5 update: Your 2012 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 |
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 live video (spanish) tv schedule
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Basque, restricted to Europe; the earliest daily broadcast at 15:15 CET (16:00 on Saturday for the final stage). |
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 live video (italian) live video (italian) live video (italian) tv schedule |
Italian; |
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live video
(catalan) tv schedule |
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live video (french) live video (french) tv schedule |
France and Europe satellites; Tour du Pays Basque live each day at 15:45 CEST with rebroadcasts. |
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delayed video (spanish) tv schedule |
Spanish; Teledeporte feed; Delayed video for stage 1 at 17:45 CET and 01:00. |
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live video ($) tv schedule (see comments) |
North America only; Live coverage every day at 10-11:30AM ET |
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live text updates |
Official text updates in Spanish and ticker (Google English Translation) |
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live text updates ESlive text updates EN |
The Spanish website Biciciclismo will also has the latest race updates |  |
 steephill text updates |
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 |