2014 Tour of the Basque Country

Last updated
2014 Tour of the Basque Country
2014 UCI World Tour, race 9 of 29
Race details
Dates7–12 April 2014
Stages6
Distance840.8 km (522.4 mi)
Winning time21h 09' 11"
Results
Jersey yellow.svg WinnerFlag of Spain.svg  Alberto Contador  (Spain) (Tinkoff–Saxo)
  SecondFlag of Poland.svg  Michał Kwiatkowski  (Poland) (Omega Pharma–Quick-Step)
  ThirdFlag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (France) (Ag2r–La Mondiale)

Jersey white.svg PointsFlag of Poland.svg  Michał Kwiatkowski  (Poland) (Omega Pharma–Quick-Step)
Jersey white dots on red.svg MountainsFlag of Italy.svg  Davide Villella  (Italy) (Cannondale)
Jersey blue.svg SprintsFlag of Spain.svg  Omar Fraile  (Spain) (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA)
  Team BMC Racing Team
  2013
2015  

The 2014 Tour of the Basque Country was the 54th edition of the Tour of the Basque Country. It started on 7 April 2014 in Ordizia and ended on 12 April in Markina-Xemein, and consisted of six stages, including a race-concluding individual time trial. It was the ninth race of the 2014 UCI World Tour season.

Contents

The race was won for the third time [1] by Spanish rider Alberto Contador of Tinkoff–Saxo, [2] who won the race's opening stage after a late-stage move and eventually held the overall lead for the rest of the race. Contador won the general classification by 49 seconds [3] over runner-up Michał Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma–Quick-Step) while Ag2r–La Mondiale's Jean-Christophe Péraud completed the podium, [4] 15 seconds behind Kwiatkowski and 64 seconds down on Contador. Kwiatkowski and Péraud had both started the final stage outside the top three placings, but moved up due to their more proficient performances in the time trial.

With five third-place finishes from the six stages, Kwiatkowski was also the winner of the white jersey for the points classification, [5] taking the lead on the final stage from the Movistar Team's Alejandro Valverde; Valverde also dropped from second to fifth overall in the general classification. [6] Cannondale rider Davide Villella was the winner of the mountains classification, [7] having held that lead from start to finish, while the sprints classification was won for the second year in a row by a rider from the wildcard team Caja Rural–Seguros RGA; Omar Fraile won the classification, [7] after Amets Txurruka had done so in 2013. The teams classification was won by BMC Racing Team, [8] with three of their riders finishing in the top 15 overall.

Teams

As the Tour of the Basque Country was a UCI World Tour event, all 18 UCI ProTeams were invited automatically and obligated to send a squad. Only Caja Rural–Seguros RGA was given a wildcard place, thus completing the 19-team peloton.

The 19 teams that competed in the race were: [9]

Stages

Stage 1

7 April 2014 Ordizia to Ordizia, 153.4 km (95.3 mi)
Stage 1 Result and General Classification after Stage 1
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Alberto Contador  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Jersey white.svg Tinkoff–Saxo 4h 05' 07"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Movistar Team + 14"
3Flag of Poland.svg  Michał Kwiatkowski  (POL) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 34"
4Flag of Russia.svg  Yuri Trofimov  (RUS) Team Katusha + 36"
5Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Merida + 36"
6Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 36"
7Flag of Spain.svg  Mikel Nieve  (ESP) Team Sky + 36"
8Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Cadel Evans  (AUS) BMC Racing Team + 36"
9Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Roman Kreuziger  (CZE) Tinkoff–Saxo + 54"
10Flag of Spain.svg  Mikel Landa  (ESP) Astana + 54"

Stage 2

8 April 2014 — Ordizia to Urdazubi, 155.8 km (96.8 mi)
Stage 2 Result
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Germany.svg  Tony Martin  (GER) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step 3h 46' 17"
2Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Ben Swift  (GBR) Team Sky + 30"
3Flag of Poland.svg  Michał Kwiatkowski  (POL) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 30"
4Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Merida + 30"
5Flag of Germany.svg  Paul Martens  (GER) Belkin Pro Cycling + 30"
6Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Movistar Team + 30"
7Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Maxim Iglinsky  (KAZ) Astana + 30"
8Flag of Japan.svg  Yukiya Arashiro  (JPN) Team Europcar + 30"
9Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Michael Matthews  (AUS) Orica–GreenEDGE + 30"
10Flag of Italy.svg  Rinaldo Nocentini  (ITA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 30"
General Classification after Stage 2
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Alberto Contador  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Tinkoff–Saxo 7h 51' 54"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Movistar Team + 14"
3Flag of Poland.svg  Michał Kwiatkowski  (POL) Jersey white.svg Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 34"
4Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Merida + 36"
5Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Cadel Evans  (AUS) BMC Racing Team + 36"
6Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 36"
7Flag of Spain.svg  Mikel Nieve  (ESP) Team Sky + 36"
8Flag of Russia.svg  Yuri Trofimov  (RUS) Team Katusha + 36"
9Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Roman Kreuziger  (CZE) Tinkoff–Saxo + 54"
10Flag of Spain.svg  Mikel Landa  (ESP) Astana + 54"

Stage 3

9 April 2014 — Urdazubi to Vitoria-Gasteiz, 194.5 km (120.9 mi)
Stage 3 Result
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Michael Matthews  (AUS) Orica–GreenEDGE 5h 02' 09"
2Flag of France.svg  Kévin Reza  (FRA) Team Europcar s.t.
3Flag of Poland.svg  Michał Kwiatkowski  (POL) Jersey white.svg Omega Pharma–Quick-Step s.t.
4Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Ben Swift  (GBR) Team Sky s.t.
5Flag of Germany.svg  Paul Martens  (GER) Belkin Pro Cycling s.t.
6Flag of Japan.svg  Yukiya Arashiro  (JPN) Team Europcar s.t.
7Flag of Italy.svg  Daniele Ratto  (ITA) Cannondale s.t.
8Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Maxim Iglinsky  (KAZ) Astana s.t.
9Flag of Italy.svg  Enrico Gasparotto  (ITA) Astana s.t.
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Tosh Van der Sande  (BEL) Lotto–Belisol s.t.
General Classification after Stage 3
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Alberto Contador  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Tinkoff–Saxo 12h 54' 03"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Movistar Team + 14"
3Flag of Poland.svg  Michał Kwiatkowski  (POL) Jersey white.svg Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 34"
4Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Merida + 36"
5Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Cadel Evans  (AUS) BMC Racing Team + 36"
6Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 36"
7Flag of Russia.svg  Yuri Trofimov  (RUS) Team Katusha + 36"
8Flag of Spain.svg  Mikel Nieve  (ESP) Team Sky + 36"
9Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Roman Kreuziger  (CZE) Tinkoff–Saxo + 54"
10Flag of Spain.svg  Mikel Landa  (ESP) Astana + 54"

Stage 4

10 April 2014 — Vitoria-Gasteiz to Eibar, 151 km (93.8 mi)
Stage 4 Result
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Wout Poels  (NED) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step 3h 39' 29"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Movistar Team + 1"
3Flag of Spain.svg  Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) BMC Racing Team + 1"
4Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Tom-Jelte Slagter  (NED) Garmin–Sharp + 3"
5Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Bauke Mollema  (NED) Belkin Pro Cycling + 3"
6Flag of Russia.svg  Yuri Trofimov  (RUS) Team Katusha + 3"
7Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Cadel Evans  (AUS) BMC Racing Team + 3"
8Flag of Spain.svg  Mikel Landa  (ESP) Astana + 3"
9Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Merida + 3"
10Flag of Spain.svg  Alberto Contador  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Tinkoff–Saxo + 3"
General Classification after Stage 4
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Alberto Contador  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Tinkoff–Saxo 16h 33' 35"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Jersey white.svg Movistar Team + 12"
3Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Merida + 36"
4Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Cadel Evans  (AUS) BMC Racing Team + 36"
5Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 36"
6Flag of Russia.svg  Yuri Trofimov  (RUS) Team Katusha + 36"
7Flag of Poland.svg  Michał Kwiatkowski  (POL) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 41"
8Flag of Spain.svg  Mikel Landa  (ESP) Astana + 54"
9Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Wout Poels  (NED) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 55"
10Flag of Spain.svg  Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) BMC Racing Team + 56"

Stage 5

11 April 2014 — Eibar to Xemein, 160.2 km (99.5 mi)
Stage 5 Result
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Ben Swift  (GBR) Team Sky 3h 56' 56"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Jersey white.svg Movistar Team s.t.
3Flag of Poland.svg  Michał Kwiatkowski  (POL) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step s.t.
4Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Tom-Jelte Slagter  (NED) Garmin–Sharp s.t.
5Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Merida s.t.
6Flag of France.svg  Cyril Gautier  (FRA) Team Europcar s.t.
7Flag of France.svg  Jonathan Hivert  (FRA) Belkin Pro Cycling s.t.
8Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale s.t.
9Flag of Spain.svg  Alberto Contador  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Tinkoff–Saxo s.t.
10Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Cadel Evans  (AUS) BMC Racing Team s.t.
General Classification after Stage 5
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Alberto Contador  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Tinkoff–Saxo 20h 30' 31"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Jersey white.svg Movistar Team + 12"
3Flag of Italy.svg  Damiano Cunego  (ITA) Lampre–Merida + 36"
4Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Cadel Evans  (AUS) BMC Racing Team + 36"
5Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 36"
6Flag of Russia.svg  Yuri Trofimov  (RUS) Team Katusha + 36"
7Flag of Poland.svg  Michał Kwiatkowski  (POL) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 41"
8Flag of Spain.svg  Mikel Landa  (ESP) Astana + 54"
9Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Wout Poels  (NED) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 55"
10Flag of Spain.svg  Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) BMC Racing Team + 56"

Stage 6

12 April 2014 — Xemein, 25.9 km (16.1 mi), individual time trial (ITT)
Stage 6 Result
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Germany.svg  Tony Martin  (GER) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step 38' 33"
2Flag of Spain.svg  Alberto Contador  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Tinkoff–Saxo + 7"
3Flag of Poland.svg  Michał Kwiatkowski  (POL) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 15"
4Flag of Slovenia.svg  Simon Špilak  (SLO) Team Katusha + 16"
5Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 35"
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Tom Dumoulin  (NED) Giant–Shimano + 38"
7Flag of Spain.svg  Jon Izagirre  (ESP) Movistar Team + 41"
8Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Jersey white.svg Movistar Team + 1' 02"
9Flag of the United States.svg  Tejay van Garderen  (USA) BMC Racing Team + 1' 05"
10Flag of France.svg  Thibaut Pinot  (FRA) FDJ.fr + 1' 25"
Final General Classification
RiderTeamTime
1Flag of Spain.svg  Alberto Contador  (ESP) Jersey yellow.svg Tinkoff–Saxo 21h 09' 11"
2Flag of Poland.svg  Michał Kwiatkowski  (POL) Jersey white.svg Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 49"
3Flag of France.svg  Jean-Christophe Péraud  (FRA) Ag2r–La Mondiale + 1' 04"
4Flag of Slovenia.svg  Simon Špilak  (SLO) Team Katusha + 1' 07"
5Flag of Spain.svg  Alejandro Valverde  (ESP) Movistar Team + 1' 07"
6Flag of the United States.svg  Tejay van Garderen  (USA) BMC Racing Team + 1' 56"
7Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Cadel Evans  (AUS) BMC Racing Team + 1' 56"
8Flag of Russia.svg  Yuri Trofimov  (RUS) Team Katusha + 2' 13"
9Flag of France.svg  Thibaut Pinot  (FRA) FDJ.fr + 2' 14"
10Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Wout Poels  (NED) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step + 2' 26"

Classification leadership table

In the 2014 Tour of the Basque Country, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, the leader received a yellow jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the 2014 Tour of the Basque Country, and the winner of the classification was the winner of the race.

Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a white jersey. In the points classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. For winning a stage, a rider earned 25 points, second place earned 20 points, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point fewer per place down to a single point for 15th. There was also a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a red jersey with white dots. In the mountains classification, points were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs.

The fourth jersey represented the sprints classification, marked by a blue jersey. In the sprints classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 3 at intermediate sprint points during each stage, with the exception of the final individual time trial stage. There was also a classification for teams, in which the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest total time.

StageWinnerGeneral classification
Jersey yellow.svg
Points classification
Jersey white.svg
Mountains classification
Jersey white dots on red.svg
Sprints classification
Jersey blue.svg
Teams classification
1 Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Davide Villella Matteo Montaguti BMC Racing Team
2 Tony Martin Michał Kwiatkowski
3 Michael Matthews
4 Wout Poels Alejandro Valverde Omar Fraile
5 Ben Swift
6 Tony Martin Michał Kwiatkowski
Final
Alberto Contador Michał Kwiatkowski Davide Villella Omar Fraile BMC Racing Team

References

  1. "Contador wins 3rd Tour of Basque Country title". USA Today . Larry Kramer; Gannett Company. Associated Press. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  2. "Contador wins Vuelta Pais Vasco". Tinkoff–Saxo . Tinkoff Sport. 12 April 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  3. Wynn, Nigel (12 April 2014). "Alberto Contador wins Tour of the Basque Country overall". Cycling Weekly . IPC Media . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  4. "JC Péraud on the podium". Ag2r–La Mondiale . EUSRL France Cyclisme. 12 April 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  5. "Martin Wins, Kwiatkowski on Stage and GC Podium!". Omega Pharma–Quick-Step . Decolef. 12 April 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  6. "Valverde left unrewarded". Movistar Team . Abarca Sports. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  7. 1 2 Farrand, Stephen (12 April 2014). "Contador secures overall Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco victory ahead of Kwiatkowski". Cyclingnews.com . Future plc . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  8. "BMC Racing Team Wins Pais Vasco Team Title". BMC Racing Team . BMC Trading. 12 April 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  9. "Tour of the Basque Country 2014 start list". Cyclingnews.com . Future plc . Retrieved 8 April 2014.