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Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco (ESP) - 06-11.04.2009
The Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco stage race is held at the same time as the classics in northern Europe, giving riders in the UCI ProTour teams an important alternative to the cobbles and cold weather.
Known as the Tour of the Basque Country in English, 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 Dario Vasco and was recently given a new UCI ProTour licence through to 2012.
In 2008 Spain’s Alberto Contador of the Astana team won the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco after leading from start to finish. He won the first stage to Legazpi and then his Astana team helped him control his key rivals in the mid-race hilly stages. Contador confirmed his many talents on the last day by winning the 20km time trial around Orio. The final overall standings included the best stage race riders in the world, with Australia’s Cadel Evans second at 30 seconds and Thomas Dekker of the Netherlands third at 35 seconds.
The route of the Vuelta Pais Vasco 2009 will again highlight the spectacular Basque countryside, with stages along the coast but also in the testing mountains. Stages are planned for Ataun, Villatuerta, Güeñes, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Zalla.
Beijing Olympic gold medalist Samuel Sanchez of the Basque Eusklatel team has naturally placed the Vuelta al Pais Vasco on his list of major objectives for 2009 but will face competition from Contador, Evans and the other strong stage racers.
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