Vuelta al País Vasco (2016) Photos April 4 - 9

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Local heroes caja rural ride to the sign in, which was inside a building	Teams presentation at the front doors to a building, Cofidis had a big impact today on today's stage	Frank Schleck (Trek) returning to racing after his Paris-Nice injury
Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) arrives to the sign-in	Pre race interview with Alberto Contador	Nairo Quintana (Movistar) fresh off his vistory at Catalunya. He's a previous winner of this event too
Break	Contador's team controlled the gap to the break and led the peloton must of the day	Aru and L-L Sanchez of Astana follow behind
Quintana seemed to be without support 30 kms from the line	Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) dropped his breakaway companions Lastra, Wyss (and Brambilla)
Lastra Caja Rural	Peloton spread actoss whole road	Henao (Sky)
Dan Martin (Ireland/Etixx)	Thibault Pinot (FDJ/France)	Omar Fraile (Spain/Dimension Data)
The late break of Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain/Astana) and Dan Navarro (Spain/Cofidis) held off the peloton but just barely	Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain/Astana) beats Dan Navarro (Spain/Cofidis)
Navarro encroaching on the victory celebration and narrowly avoiding locking bars	Last year's overall winner, Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha)	Fabio Aru (Astana/Italy)
Your Stage 1 winner, Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain/Astana)		Race leader, Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain/Astana)
Jonathan Lastra (Caja Rural/Spain)	16:48:31 Jonathan Lastra (Caja Rural/Spain) with in the KOM jersey in his WorldTour debut
Nicolas Edet (France/Cofidis) took the intermediate sprints / points jersey on Stage 1		Jean-Francois Peschaux former Tour De France director was in attendance. Consulting or looking into a possible Basque grand depart for the Tour?

Stage 2:  Markina-Xemein → Baranbio-Garrastatxu, 174 km  Full Results and Report

Philip Deignan (Ireland/Sky)	Nicolas Edet (France/Cofodis)	Dan Martin (Ireland/Etixx)
Warren Barguil (France/Giant Alpecin)	Frank Schleck (Luxembourg/Trek)	Jonathan Lastra (Caja Rural/Spain)
Samu Sanchez (BMC/Basque Country)	Sergio Henao (Colombia/Sky)	Dani Navarro (Cofidis)
Omar Fraile (Dimension Data)	Rui Costa (Portugal/Lampre)	Thibault Pinot (FDJ/France)
Nairo Quintana (Movistar/Colombia)	Adam Yates (GB/Orica Green Edge)	Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff)
Contador is ready	Amets Txurruka (local Basque hero/Orica Greenedge)	Yellow jersey wearer Luis Leon Sanchez of Astana
Jonathan Lastra (Caja Rural) in the kom jersey
Stage 2 rollout from Markina-Xemein		Pit stop for the photographer
On to the hilltop finish at Baranbio-Garrastatxu	Mikel Landa (Basque Country/Team Sky) wins after attacking with Wilco Kelderman (NL/Lotto Jumbo) two km from the hilltop finish
Local boy comes up big. Landa lives very close to today's finish
2nd Wilco Kelderman Lotto Jumbo + 1s	3rd Sergio HENAO (SKY) + 5s	4th Samuel SANCHEZ (BMC RACING) + 9s
5th Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF) + 11s checks the gap back to 6th
7th Rui COSTA (LAMPRE - MERIDA) + 15s followed by 8th Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR)	12th Louis VERVAEKE (LOTTO SOUDAL) + 15s	Fabio Aru
Interview with the winner and local boy, Mikel Landa	Warren Barguil	Dan Martin
		Race leader no more, Luis Leon Sanchez
Sergio Henao	Your Stage 2 winner, Mikel Landa (Basque Country/Sky)	And new race leader
Nicolas Edet (France/Cofidis) takes the king of the mountains jersey

Stage 3:  Vitoria-Gasteiz → Lesaka, 194 km  Full Results and Report

Ettixx riders queue for the stage 3 sign in	Ivan Basso formerly of Tinkoff Saxo was present again with the team, and was happy to talk and reminisce at stage start	Steve Cummings was feeling good before today's stage
Thibault Pinot France FDJ	Dani Navarro Spain was again active today, trying to escape on 2 climbs	Joaquim Rodriguez Spain Katusha
Nairo Quintana Colombia Movistar	Race leader Mikel Landa Basque Country Sky	Alberto Contador
	Fabio Aru Italy Astana
Nicolas Edet France Cofidis	Quintana and Aru start line talk	Stage 3 start line scene
Stage 3 rollout		Mikel Landa Basque Country Sky has time to wave for the camera
Rider's always like seeing Colin Flockton	Alberto Contador Spain Tinkoff	Dani Navarro Spain Cofidis
The break with Cataldo (Astana) Denifl (IAM) T_J Slagter (cannindale) Yates (Orica) Navarro (Cofidis) & an etixx ride		Less than 30s back, Philip Deignan Ireland Sky leads peloton on behalf of race leader / yellow jersey mikel landa in 3rd wheel here
Sergio Henao Colombia Sky ahead of yellow jersey Mikel Landa sky and Rodriguez and the other big names close behind	Race leader Mikel Landa Basque Country Sky	Steve Cummings Dimension Data GB was actually in the 3rd group (1 minute back) going through Lesaka 12k from the finish
Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) with 50m to go after launching a solo attack less than 1 km from the finish		This guy knows how to win in style... Steve Cummings Dimension Data GB holds on to win Stage 3
2nd Simon GERRANS (ORICA GreenEDGE) and 3rd Fabio FELLINE (TREK - SEGAFREDO)
Mikel Landa finishes safely in the favourites group	Thumbs up from the winner	The helicopter came a little close to the podium
Your Stage 3 winner, Steve Cummings Gb/Dimension Data		His new friend
Devilish looks from the podium ladies	Steve Cummings GB Dimension Data unsure of a kiss
	Mikel Landa sky/basque in yellow leader's jersey struggling with the cava
Miguel Indurain 5 times tour de france winner and Navarra resident was the guest of honour	Simon Gerrans Australia Orica in white points jersey

Stage 4:  Lesaka → Orio, 165 km  Full Results and Report

Good Morning from Stage 4 in Lesaka	Warm smiles on a chilly morning	Wilco Kelderman NL Lotto-Jumbo woke thinking about Yellow
Pello Bilbao (Caja Rural) delights local fans with a signature at the start in Lesaka	Local boy Omar Fraile Basque/Dimension Data	X Factor style hand touching to delight fans at stage start Omar Fraile Basque/Dimension Data
Today's most active rider Joaquim Rodriguez of Katusha	Samuel Sanchez at stage sign on	11:31:49 7R9A8913.jpg
Joaquim Rodriguez Spain Katusha	Riders gathered before the start in Lesaka	Jaizkibel, the first climb of the day at km 29 km
In the fog and rain at the Jaizkibel KOM, Stefan Denifl (Austria/IAM) crosses first	The early break	Sergio Henao in the Sky train
Race leader, Mikel Landa (Basque/Sky), Quintana (Colombia/Movistar), Rui Costa (Portugal/Lampre) and Contador (Spain/Tinkoff)	Contador	2nd in this group: Vervaeke (Belgium/Lotto Soudal) and then Kelderman Netherlands Lotto-Jumbo
Dan Martin Ireland Etixx and Warren Barguil France Giant-Alpecin who would later try and attack	Jurgen Van den Broek (Belgium/Katusha) looking like he wishes he was somewhere with better weather	Samu Sanchez Spain BMC 2nd in this group already a couple of minutes behind on Jaizkibel was clearly pacing himself to the finish today
Dani Navarro Spain Cofidis up until now had been a factor, but was also in the back group on Jaizkibel	Riders cresting Jaizkibel into the clouds	Dropped IAM rider working back through the cars on Jaizkibel
Local fans from school gave no doubt who they supported in AIa	3rd of 6 ams in Ala at km 100. Quality escape group passing through Aia with Luis Angel Mate (Spain/Cofidis), Simone Petilli (Italy/Lampre) at the front, also Tim Wellens, Carlos Verona, Christophe Riblon. At one point they had over 3 minute lead.	Stage hunters, Christophe Riblon (France/AG2R) and Tim Wellens (Belgium/Lotto Soudal) both sat at the back of the escape group in Aia
Two minutes later, Sky controled the gap to the lead group, but also policed by Tinkoff, Katusha and others	Mikel Landa Basque Sky behind his team, with Contador (hidden) and Rodriguez	Jeremy Roy France FDJ at Aia looking wet
The view from the finish looking back at the helicopter over Aia from the final pass	Nairo Quintana and Alberto Contador on the very steep 28% penultimate climb with 15 km to go	Nairo Quintana and Alberto Contador on the very steep 28% penultimate climb with 15 km to go
The final bend after the descent to the finish: Samuel Sanchez (Spain/BMC) appears first checks over his left at 50m to go in Orio	Now he checks over his right shoulder	You can never be too sure before firing over a victory salute
	An emotional win for veteran Sammy Sanchez (BMC)	The first individual win in three years for the former world champion
2nd Rui COSTA (LAMPRE - MERIDA) and 3rd Warren BARGUIL (GIANT - ALPECIN)	Leading in the next group 8s back, 18th Laurens DE PLUS (ETIXX - QUICK STEP), Pierre-Roger LATOUR (AG2R LA MONDIALE) and race leader now more, 20 Mikel LANDA (SKY)	Fabio Aru Italy Astana
Alberto Contador Spain Tinkoff finished in the lead group	Dani Navarro Cofidis Spain	Mikel Landa Basque Sky gave up the race lead
New race leader, 8th today in the lead group, Wilco Kelderman (Netherlands/Lotto-Jumbo)	luis angel mate spain cofidis	Emotional Samuel Sanchez Spain BMC
Interview with the Basque broadcaster post race		Your Stage 4 winner, Samuel Sanchez (Spain BMC )
New race leader by 4s, Wilco Kelderman (Netherlands/Lotto-Jumbo)
	Samuel Sanchez (Spain/BMC) takes points white jersey too
Stefan Denifl (Austria/IAM Cycling) keeps the mountains jersey

Stage 5:  Orio → Arrate, 159 km  Full Results and Report

First stage 5 attacks after around 10k		Diego Rosa already on his own by the 3rd climb of 8 today
Diego Rosa	Stefan Denifl (Austra/IAm) tries to defend his polka dot jersey knowing Rosa is on the rampage	Amets Txurruka (Basque/Orica Greenedge) - his face tells a story on todays 3rd climb
Lotto Jumbo control the peloton as they have the yellow jersey with Wilco Kelderman	Race leader, Wilco Kelderman (Netherlands/Lotto Jumbo) on right the yellow jersey followed his yellow jersey predecessor Mikel Landa (Sky). We would have a new race leader again after this tough Stage 5	Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff) in the main pack on Karabieta (3rd climb)
Louis Vervaeke (Belgium/Lotto Soudal) puts a rain jacket on while ascending alto de karabieta	Vasil Kirieka looks unhappy on alto karabieta and he will retire soon from the race	Vasil Kirieka about to abandon the race
	Exchange of rain capes for Contador during a very wet and hard st5
	Race leader, Kelderman 4th wheel has crashed and cut his knee. He lost the leader's jersey as a result.	Sergio HENAO (SKY) and Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF) have dropped the other GC contenders on the final climb
Diego Rosa starts as a conventional salute at 25m to go after a long solo day		What's he doing?
16:15:13 161513_7R9A9813.jpg	16:15:14 161514_7R9A9816.jpg	16:15:16 161516_7R9A9818.jpg
16:15:17 161517_7R9A9820.jpg	When you win by three minutes after an epic stage, why not?	Best victory salute of the year
	2nd Sergio HENAO (SKY) and 3rd Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF) + 3:13 with Heneo now the race leader by 6s over Contador. 4th Joaquin RODRIGUEZ (KATUSHA) and 5th Thibaut PINOT (FDJ) + 3:15

Stage 6:  Eibar → Eibar, 16.5 km  Full Results and Report

Diego Rosa (Italy/Astana) in mountain jersey, 19th + 1:52	23rd Daniel NAVARRO (COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS) + 1:56	28th Mikel LANDA (SKY) + 2:11
30th Wilco KELDERMAN (LOTTO NL - JUMBO) + 2:13	25th Lawson CRADDOCK (CANNONDALE) + 1:58, 9th overall	2nd Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) + 5s, 3rd overall
5th Samuel SANCHEZ (BMC RACING) + 1:04, 6th overall + 1:29	8th Joaquin RODRIGUEZ (KATUSHA) + 1:16, 5th overall + 1:22	6th Thibaut PINOT (FDJ) + 1:09, 4th overall + 1:13
1st Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF) 16.5 km in 29:13	Race leader, Sergio HENAO (SKY) 3rd + 18s	2nd Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) + 5s, 3rd overall + 37s
2nd Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) + 5s, 3rd overall + 37s	1st Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF) 16.5 km in 29:13, 1st overall by 12s	1st Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF) 16.5 km in 29:13, 1st overall by 12s
	Your Stage 6 ITT and overall winner, Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF)
This is the 4th time he has won Tour of the Basque Country (2008, 2009, 2014 and now 2016)		2nd Sergio HENAO (SKY) + 12s
Diego Rosa (Italy/Astana) wins polka dot jersey and combativity prize	Diego Rosa (Italy/Astana) wins polka dot jersey	Nicolas Edet (france/cofidis) wins intermediate sprints jersey
Lawson Craddock (USA/Cannondale) 9th overall was the best young rider	Mikel Landa (basque/sky) was the best local (baque) rider	Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar) 3rd overall
Your 2016 overall podium: 2nd Sergio HENAO (SKY) + 12s 1st Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF) 22:44:43, 3rd Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) + 37s		Alberto Contador announced at the post-conference that he'll most likely race another.