2010 Tour of the Basque Country

Last updated
2010 Vuelta al País Vasco
2010 UCI ProTour
2010 UCI World Ranking, race 1 of 26
Race details
Dates5–10 April
Stages6
Distance888 km (551.8 mi)
Winning time23h 27' 30"
Results
Jersey yellow.svg WinnerFlag of the United States.svg  Chris Horner  (USA) (Team RadioShack)
  SecondFlag of Spain.svg  Beñat Intxausti  (ESP) (Euskaltel–Euskadi)
  ThirdFlag of Spain.svg  Joaquim Rodríguez  (ESP) (Team Katusha)

Jersey white.svg PointsFlag of Spain.svg  Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) (Euskaltel–Euskadi)
Jersey white dots on red.svg MountainsFlag of Spain.svg  Gonzalo Rabuñal  (ESP) (Xacobeo–Galicia)
Jersey blue.svg SprintsFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Christian Meier  (CAN) (Garmin–Transitions)
  Team Team HTC–Columbia
  2009
2011  

The 2010 Tour of the Basque Country, was the 50th edition of the Tour of the Basque Country cycling stage race. It started on 5 April and ended on 10 April. Chris Horner won the race 7 seconds ahead of Alejandro Valverde after winning the sixth and final stage which was an individual time trial 8 seconds ahead of Valverde. Valverde's results were subsequently removed after a retroactive suspension was applied. [1]

Contents

Pre-Race Favourites

Two time defending champion, Alberto Contador announced that he would not be taking part in the 2010 Tour. Instead he put his focus at the Critérium International. [2] 2009 Tour de France runner up Andy Schleck and his brother, Fränk Schleck as well as 2009 Vuelta a España champion Alejandro Valverde were heavy favourites. However other favourites also included Team RadioShack's Andreas Klöden, Italy's Damiano Cunego and Samuel Sánchez from Spain. [3]

Teams

There are 20 teams competing in the 2010 Tour of the Basque Country. They are: [4]

Stages

Stage 1

5 April 2010 – Zierbena to Zierbena, 152 km (94 mi)

Alejandro Valverde was awarded the opening stage after Óscar Freire, who crossed the line first, was disqualified for interfering with him in the sprint. After the subsequent removal of Valverde's results, Freire was reinstated as stage winner. [5] Pre-race favourite, Samuel Sánchez missed a decisive split in the peloton and finished 1:38 behind the peloton, making a victory for him seem very unlikely. [6]

Stage 1 results
CyclistTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Óscar Freire  (ESP) Rabobank 3h 57' 57"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne + 0"
3Flag of France.svg  Christophe Le Mével  (FRA) Française des Jeux + 0"
4Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Ryder Hesjedal  (CAN) Garmin–Transitions + 0"
5Flag of Russia.svg  Alexandr Kolobnev  (RUS) Team Katusha + 0"
6Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Jurgen Van den Broeck  (BEL) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 0"
7Flag of Colombia.svg  Rigoberto Urán  (COL) Caisse d'Epargne + 0"
8Flag of Spain.svg  Haimar Zubeldia  (ESP) Team RadioShack + 0"
9Flag of Ireland.svg  Dan Martin  (IRL) Garmin–Transitions + 0"
10Flag of Spain.svg  Benat Intxausti  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 0"
General classification after Stage 1
CyclistTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Jersey white.svg Caisse d'Epargne 3h 57' 57"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Óscar Freire  (ESP) Rabobank + 0"
3Flag of France.svg  Christophe Le Mével  (FRA) Française des Jeux + 0"
4Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Ryder Hesjedal  (CAN) Garmin–Transitions + 0"
5Flag of Russia.svg  Alexandr Kolobnev  (RUS) Team Katusha + 0"
6Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Jurgen Van den Broeck  (BEL) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 0"
7Flag of Colombia.svg  Rigoberto Urán  (COL) Caisse d'Epargne + 0"
8Flag of Spain.svg  Haimar Zubeldia  (ESP) Team RadioShack + 0"
9Flag of Ireland.svg  Dan Martin  (IRL) Garmin–Transitions + 0"
10Flag of Spain.svg  Benat Intxausti  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 0"

Stage 2

6 April 2010 – Zierbena to Viana, 217 km (135 mi)
Stage 2 Results
CyclistTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Óscar Freire  (ESP) Rabobank 5h 53' 40"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Jersey white.svg Caisse d'Epargne + 0"
3Flag of Italy.svg  Francesco Gavazzi  (ITA) Lampre–Farnese Vini + 1"
4Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Michael Albasini  (SUI) Team HTC–Columbia + 1"
5Flag of Spain.svg  Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 1"
6Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Ryder Hesjedal  (CAN) Garmin–Transitions + 1"
7Flag of Slovenia.svg  Kristijan Koren  (SLO) Liquigas–Doimo + 1"
8Flag of Russia.svg  Alexandr Kolobnev  (RUS) Team Katusha + 1"
9Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Farnese Vini + 1"
10Flag of Germany.svg  Paul Martens  (GER) Rabobank + 1"
General classification after Stage 2
CyclistTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Jersey white.svg Caisse d'Epargne 9h 51' 38"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Óscar Freire  (ESP) Rabobank + 0"
3Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Ryder Hesjedal  (CAN) Garmin–Transitions + 1"
4Flag of Russia.svg  Alexandr Kolobnev  (RUS) Team Katusha + 1"
5Flag of Colombia.svg  Rigoberto Urán  (COL) Caisse d'Epargne + 1"
6Flag of Ireland.svg  Dan Martin  (IRL) Garmin–Transitions + 1"
7Flag of Spain.svg  Haimar Zubeldia  (ESP) Team RadioShack + 1"
8Flag of Spain.svg  Joaquim Rodríguez  (ESP) Team Katusha + 1"
9Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Farnese Vini + 1"
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Jurgen Van den Broeck  (BEL) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 1"

Stage 3

7 April 2010– Viana to Amurrio, 187 km (116 mi)
Stage 3 Results
CyclistTeamTime
1Flag of Italy.svg  Francesco Gavazzi  (ITA) Lampre–Farnese Vini 4h 49' 52"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Óscar Freire  (ESP) Rabobank + 0"
3Flag of Slovakia.svg  Peter Velits  (SVK) Team HTC–Columbia + 0"
4Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Bocharov  (RUS) Team Katusha + 0"
5Flag of Spain.svg  Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 0"
6Flag of Italy.svg  Davide Viganò  (ITA) Team Sky + 0"
7Flag of Germany.svg  Christian Knees  (GER) Team Milram + 0"
8Flag of Italy.svg  Davide Malacarne  (ITA) Quick-Step + 0"
9Flag of Germany.svg  Paul Martens  (GER) Rabobank + 0"
10Flag of Slovenia.svg  Kristijan Koren  (SLO) Liquigas–Doimo + 0"
General classification after Stage 3
CyclistTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Óscar Freire  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Jersey white.svg Rabobank 14h 41' 30"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne + 2"
3Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Ryder Hesjedal  (CAN) Garmin–Transitions + 3"
4Flag of Russia.svg  Alexandr Kolobnev  (RUS) Team Katusha + 3"
5Flag of Spain.svg  Haimar Zubeldia  (ESP) Team RadioShack + 3"
6Flag of Italy.svg  Marco Pinotti  (ITA) Team HTC–Columbia + 3"
7Flag of Spain.svg  Joaquim Rodríguez  (ESP) Team Katusha + 3"
8Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Farnese Vini + 3"
9Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Dries Devenyns  (BEL) Quick-Step + 3"
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Jurgen Van den Broeck  (BEL) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 3"

Stage 4

8 April 2010 – Murgia to Eibar, 160 km (99 mi)

After missing a decisive split that put him over 1:30 behind the race leader, it was the Olympic Champion Samuel Sánchez who won the hilliest stage of this year's tour.

Samuel Sánchez caught Chris Horner at the top of the Alto de Usartza climb and then dived down the short descent to the finish to win by two seconds. Alejandro Valverde and Robert Gesink also caught Chris Horner who barely managed to stay with them.

The victory put Alejandro Valverde only one second ahead of Chris Horner and Robert Gesink respectively. The overall favourites knew they had to wait for the Alto de Usartza, that ended just two kilometres from the finish.

Samuel Sánchez's victory was Euskaltel–Euskadi's first victory of the 2010 cycling year as well. [7]

Stage 4 Results
CyclistTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi 4h 05' 16"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne + 2"
3Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Robert Gesink  (NED) Rabobank + 2"
4Flag of the United States.svg  Chris Horner  (USA) Team RadioShack + 2"
5Flag of Spain.svg  Beñat Intxausti  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 33"
6Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 33"
7Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Farnese Vini + 40"
8Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Andy Schleck  (LUX) Team Saxo Bank + 40"
9Flag of France.svg  Sandy Casar  (FRA) Française des Jeux + 49"
10Flag of Spain.svg  Joaquim Rodríguez  (ESP) Team Katusha + 49"
General classification after Stage 4
CyclistTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Jersey white.svg Caisse d'Epargne 18h 46' 50"
2Flag of the United States.svg  Chris Horner  (USA) Team RadioShack + 1"
3Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Robert Gesink  (NED) Rabobank + 1"
4Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 32"
5Flag of Spain.svg  Beñat Intxausti  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 32"
6Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Farnese Vini + 39"
7Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Andy Schleck  (LUX) Team Saxo Bank + 39"
8Flag of Italy.svg  Marco Pinotti  (ITA) Team HTC–Columbia + 48"
9Flag of Spain.svg  Joaquim Rodríguez  (ESP) Team Katusha + 48"
10Flag of France.svg  Sandy Casar  (FRA) Française des Jeux + 48"

Stage 5

9 April 2010 – Eibar to Orio, 170 km (110 mi)

Joaquim Rodríguez soloed across the finish line, taking 14 seconds off of race leader Alejandro Valverde and put him comfortably in 3rd place. 2008 Champion Samuel Sánchez came in 2nd place, just ahead of race leader Alejandro Valverde.

A large attack group including mountains classification leader Amets Txurruka spent much of the day ahead of the peloton. On the penultimate climb Txurruka attacked solo, but crashed on the descent towards the final climb. He was able to complete the stage, but broke his collarbone in the incident and had to drop out before the final time trial.

Robert Gesink who was in 3rd place after the previous stage, is now in 8th place after experiencing a crash on the final climb. His team (Rabobank) reported that he may have broken a bone in his hand.

Joaquim Rodríguez had attacked out of the chasing peloton with about 20 km to go, passing the remnants of an earlier escape group. He had come into the stage 48 seconds down on the general ranking, dangerous enough for Valverde, Horner and Sánchez to give chase.

Joaquim Rodríguez was happy with the result and the ITT is different than normal because it has a hilly finish. His dream is to take the GC. [8]

Stage 5 Results
CyclistTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Joaquim Rodríguez  (ESP) Team Katusha 4h 07' 52"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 14"
3Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Jersey white.svg Caisse d'Epargne + 14"
4Flag of the United States.svg  Chris Horner  (USA) Team RadioShack + 14"
5Flag of France.svg  Sandy Casar  (FRA) Française des Jeux + 20"
6Flag of Italy.svg  Francesco Gavazzi  (ITA) Lampre–Farnese Vini + 20"
7Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Ryder Hesjedal  (CAN) Garmin–Transitions + 20"
8Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Dries Devenyns  (BEL) Quick-Step + 20"
9Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Jurgen Van den Broeck  (BEL) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 20"
10Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 20"
General classification after Stage 5
CyclistTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Jersey white.svg Caisse d'Epargne 22h 54' 56"
2Flag of the United States.svg  Chris Horner  (USA) Team RadioShack + 1"
3Flag of Spain.svg  Joaquim Rodríguez  (ESP) Team Katusha + 34"
4Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 38"
5Flag of Spain.svg  Beñat Intxausti  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 38"
6Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Andy Schleck  (LUX) Team Saxo Bank + 45"
7Flag of Italy.svg  Marco Pinotti  (ITA) Team HTC–Columbia + 54"
8Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Robert Gesink  (NED) Rabobank + 54"
9Flag of France.svg  Sandy Casar  (FRA) Française des Jeux + 54"
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Dries Devenyns  (BEL) Quick-Step + 1' 16"

Stage 6

10 April 2010 – Orio to Orio, 22 km (14 mi) ( Individual Time Trial )
Stage 6 Results
CyclistTeamTime
1Flag of the United States.svg  Chris Horner  (USA) Team RadioShack 32' 33"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Jersey white.svg Caisse d'Epargne + 8"
3Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Maxime Monfort  (BEL) Team HTC–Columbia + 13"
4Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Michael Rogers  (AUS) Team HTC–Columbia + 18"
5Flag of Spain.svg  Beñat Intxausti  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 21"
6Flag of Spain.svg  Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 23"
7Flag of Italy.svg  Marco Pinotti  (ITA) Team HTC–Columbia + 25"
8Flag of Spain.svg  Joaquim Rodríguez  (ESP) Team Katusha + 33"
9Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 33"
10Flag of Germany.svg  Andreas Klöden  (GER) Team RadioShack + 34""
General classification after Stage 6
CyclistTeamTime
1Flag of the United States.svg  Chris Horner  (USA) Jersey yellow.svg Team RadioShack 23h 27' 30"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Jersey white.svg Caisse d'Epargne + 7"
3Flag of Spain.svg  Beñat Intxausti  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 58"
4Flag of Spain.svg  Joaquim Rodríguez  (ESP) Team Katusha + 1' 06"
5Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 1' 10"
6Flag of Italy.svg  Marco Pinotti  (ITA) Team HTC–Columbia + 1' 18"
7Flag of France.svg  Sandy Casar  (FRA) Française des Jeux + 1' 47"
8Flag of Spain.svg  Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 1' 58"
9Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Robert Gesink  (NED) Rabobank + 1' 59"
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Dries Devenyns  (BEL) Quick-Step + 2' 27"

Classification Leadership

StageWinnerGeneral classification
Jersey yellow.svg
Points Classification
Jersey white.svg
Mountains Classification
Jersey white dots on red.svg
Sprints Classification
Jersey blue.svg
Team Classification
1 Alejandro Valverde
Óscar Freire
Alejandro Valverde
Óscar Freire
Alejandro Valverde
Óscar Freire
Gonzalo Rabuñal Christian Meier Team RadioShack
2 Alejandro Valverde
Óscar Freire
3 Francesco Gavazzi Óscar Freire Óscar Freire
4 Samuel Sánchez Alejandro Valverde
Chris Horner
Alejandro Valverde
Samuel Sánchez
Amets Txurruka
5 Joaquim Rodríguez
6 Chris Horner Chris Horner Gonzalo Rabuñal Team HTC–Columbia
Final
Chris Horner Alejandro Valverde
Samuel Sánchez
Gonzalo Rabuñal Christian Meier Team HTC–Columbia

Final results

General classification

RiderTeamTime
1Flag of the United States.svg  Chris Horner  (USA) Jersey yellow.svg Team RadioShack 23h 27' 30"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Beñat Intxausti  (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 58"
3Flag of Spain.svg  Joaquim Rodríguez  (ESP) Team Katusha + 1' 06"
4Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 1' 10"
5Flag of Italy.svg  Marco Pinotti  (ITA) Team HTC–Columbia + 1' 18"
6Flag of France.svg  Sandy Casar  (FRA) Française des Jeux + 1' 47"
7Flag of Spain.svg  Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) Jersey white.svg Euskaltel–Euskadi + 1' 58"
8Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Robert Gesink  (NED) Rabobank + 1' 59"
9Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Dries Devenyns  (BEL) Quick-Step + 2' 27"
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Jurgen Van den Broeck  (BEL) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 2' 37"

Team classification

Pos.TeamTime
1 Team HTC–Columbia 70h 28′ 40″
2 Team RadioShack + 17″
3 Euskaltel–Euskadi + 2′ 14″
4 Caisse d'Epargne + 6′ 09″
5 Team Katusha + 14′ 32″
6 Française des Jeux + 18′ 08″
7 Rabobank + 20′ 44″
8 Omega Pharma–Lotto + 21′ 43″
9 Quick-Step + 23′ 29″
10 Team Saxo Bank + 24′ 17″

See also

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