Vuelta al País Vasco (2013) Photos April 1 - 6

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Cars getting towed prior to the finish in Vitoria-Gasteiz	The finish scene before the peloton arrived	A big sprint finish coming up
It looks like Daniele RATTO (CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING) is in the lead		30m to go: After a great leadout, Daryl IMPEY (ORICA GREENEDGE) emerges from around the bend with the best line to the finish
		Everyone was pulling faces at this point
		Daryl IMPEY (ORICA GREENEDGE) wins ahead of Francesco GAVAZZI (ASTANA) and Angel VICIOSO (KATUSHA)
Daryl IMPEY also won stage 2 in Vitoria-Gasteiz last year (photos)	Amets TXURRUKA (CAJA RURAL) was off the front over the early categorized climbs and extended his KOM lead	Your stage 2 winner, Daryl IMPEY (ORICA GREENEDGE)
2nd today and 4th on stage 1 gives Francesco GAVAZZI (ASTANA) the race lead	Your race leader, Francesco GAVAZZI (ASTANA), but tied on time with many other riders
		Francesco GAVAZZI (ASTANA) is 29 years old so he can't be the best young rider. The white jersey must be for the points competition.
Amets TXURRUKA (CAJA RURAL)	Amets TXURRUKA (CAJA RURAL) was off the front over the early categorized climbs and extended his KOM lead	Best Basque rider as well?

Stage 3:  Vitoria-Gasteiz → Trapagaran, 168 km  Full Results and Report

Cathedral in Vitoria-Gasteiz where we finished off yesterday	Center square	Andy Schleck being interviewed during the sign-in
Alberto Contador quietly made it to the sign on without being spotted this morning before the tv crews grabbed him. He was also quiet during the uphill finish at the end of today's stage.	Juan Jose Cobo
The rollout from Vitoria-Gasteiz		The pressure was on the Euskaltel Euskadi boys to get there first win of the year
Sammy Sanchez finished 10th today + 21s	Jens Voigt	Early break
	The peloton after the rollout	The peloton brought the race back together for the uphill finish
The final climb to Alto de la Lejana kicked up to 21% in the last 400 meters after averaging 5.2% over 7.5 km	The finish was a dual between two Colombians, Sergio HENAO (SKY PROCYCLING) and Carlos BETANCUR (AG2R LA MONDIALE)	Neck and neck most of the way up to the line
	It looks like Carlos BETANCUR (AG2R LA MONDIALE) is going to take it
	Some bumping right at the line	Sergio HENAO (SKY PROCYCLING) beats Carlos BETANCUR (AG2R LA MONDIALE)
Carlos BETANCUR (AG2R LA MONDIALE) raises his arm in protest		No time for a victory salute
3rd Giampaolo CARUSO (KATUSHA) + 5s	4th Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR TEAM) + 8s	5th Diego ULISSI (LAMPRE-MERIDA) + 10s and 6th Richie PORTE (SKY PROCYCLING)
7th Alberto CONTADOR (SAXO-TINKOFF) + 10s	9th Igor ANTON (EUSKALTEL EUSKADI) + 16s	Leading the next group across for 10th Samuel SANCHEZ (EUSKALTEL EUSKADI) + 21s
12th Benat INTXAUSTI (MOVISTAR TEAM) feeling the effort	Your stage 3 uphill winner, Sergio HENAO (SKY PROCYCLING)
	Also the new race leader. Sergio HENAO (SKY PROCYCLING) leads by 8s.	Sergio HENAO (SKY PROCYCLING) also has the white jersey
Amets TXURRUKA (CAJA RURAL) was once again in the break today for the third day in row...	Amets TXURRUKA (CAJA RURAL) continues to lead the mountains classification	IMG_0092_edited-1.jpg

Stage 4:  Trapagaran → Eibar, 152 km  Full Results and Report

The start scene for stage 4 in Trapagaran	Ryder Hesjedal	Andy Schleck
Andreas Klöden	Alberto Contador	Race leader, Sergio Henao
Richie Porte	Philippe Gilbert	Penultimate climb
The break
The peloton		Andy Schleck
The winner is always first around the final corner at the Arrate finish
Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR TEAM) wins the Queen Stage by 2s
2nd was the race leader Sergio HENAO (SKY PROCYCLING) + 2s followed by 3rd Alberto CONTADOR (SAXO-TINKOFF), 4th Carlos BETANCUR (AG2R LA MONDIALE), 5th Simon SPILAK (KATUSHA)
5 Simon SPILAK, (KATUSHA) + 2s, 6th Richie PORTE (SKY PROCYCLING) 7th Jean-Christophe PERAUD (AG2R LA MONDIALE)	Jean-Christophe PERAUD (AG2R LA MONDIALE) was one of two riders who crashed while braking at the finish	Andrew Talansky was the other rider who crashed at the slippery finish
Your stage 4 winner, Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR TEAM)	Race leader Sergio HENAO (SKY) was 2nd today + 2s

Stage 5:  Eibar → Beasain, 166 km  Full Results and Report

The finish in Beasain	Cobbled finish... a reminder of Paris-Roubaix this weekend	one of many abandonments on the finishing circuits
First of the three passes on the finishing circuits. Sunny for now.	Sky controlling the race
Michael Rogers	Solo break by Omar FRAILE (CAJA RURAL - SEGUROS RGA) next time through
The chase: Team Sky followed by Saxo-Tinkoff	Alberto Contador	Sammy Sanchez would later make an attack on the final descent
	Jens Voigt pulling a face	Ryder Hesjedal about to abandon before the final lap
Paris-Nice winner Richie Porte (Sky), attacked with one km to go.	After 10 categorized climbs, Richie Porte (Sky) wins Stage 5
Checking the (4 second) margin of victory		The bunch sprint for 2nd
Sammy Sanchez gets 2nd...	... but he's not happy... because his team Euskaltel Euskadi is still winless this year	Race leader Sergio Henao (Sky), left, finished 3rd and retains his race lead
	Alberto Contador was at the back of the second group, too (7th)	9th Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) + 20s
	IMG_0562_edited-1.jpg	10th Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha) and 11 Carlos Betancur (AG2R La Mondiale)
12th Daniel Navarro (Cofidis, Solutions Credits)	12th Wouter Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM) + 27 followed by 13th Tom Danielson, (Garmin Sharp)
	Exhausted Omar FRAILE (CAJA RURAL - SEGUROS RGA) crosses 15th + 41s after his unsuccessful solo break was caught with 6 km to go	Special mention goes to Vasil Kiryienka, who led the peloton in its chase for over 50 km in support of stage winner Richie Porte and overall leader Sergio Henao.
Stage 5 winner, Richie Porte (Sky), will also be the favorite for the final day ITT and the overall win being just 6s back on GC	Richie Porte's Sky teammate, Sergio Henao will take a small overall lead into the ITT	Save something for the ITT, Sergio
Amets TXURRUKA (CAJA RURAL) will win the mountains classification

Stage 6:  Beasain → Beasain, 24 km ITT  Full Results and Report

Police escorts lined up and ready for another rainy stage in the Basque Country	The start ramp
Wouter Poels was one of few riders to practice on the ITT course	Snow in the surrounding hills	Astana warming up under a covered building
Tony Martin warming up by the OPQS team bus	A good angle showing how aero Tony Martin gets	Rein Taaramae and his Cofidis teammates
Getting started in the rain	Michael ALBASINI (Orica Greenedge) was the first man down the ramp	Amets Txurruka's mountains classification wasn't in doubt today
Tony Martin (Omega Pharma Quick Step) wins the technical 24 km ITT in 35:05	Tony Martin (Omega Pharma Quick Step) would have to sit around to wait for confirmation of his win	3rd Benat INTXAUSTI (MOVISTAR TEAM) + 32s
Best Euskaltel-Euskadi rider was Jon Izaguirre Insausti + 2:08	6th Simon Spilak (Katusha) + 48s and just missed the podium by 1 second	10th Alberto CONTADOR (SAXO-TINKOFF) + 1:07
	Alberto Contador dropped from 4th to 5th on GC today	4th Richie Porte (Sky) + 40s
Richie Porte (Sky) moved up one spot from 3rd to 2nd on GC	Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR TEAM) finishing off a great ride... + 17	Just 17s back of Tony Martin's winning, Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR TEAM) wins the overall by 23s over Richie Porte
	Race leader, Sergio HENAO (SKY PROCYCLING) was 7th + 57s	But, it wasn't good enough. Sergio HENAO (SKY PROCYCLING) slipped from 1st to 3rd overall
Your stage 6 ITT winner, Tony Martin (OPSQ)
		Big smiles from Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR TEAM)
Your 2013 Tour of Basque Country winner, Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR TEAM)		Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR TEAM) also won the points classification
Amets Txurruka wins the mountains classification		Your overall winner, Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR TEAM)
2nd and 1st, Richie Porte and Nairo Quintana		Your 2013 overall podium, 2nd Richie Porte (Sky Procycling) + 23s, 1st Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) 21:39:35, 3rd Sergio Henao (Sky Procycling) + 34s
Two proud Colombians on the podium	Sergo Henao was first to pop the cork
Best Basque rider, 8th Benat Intxausti (Movistar Team) + 1:57	With the 1st and 8th best riders, Movistar won the teams competition