The dust has hardly settled on the cobblestones of Flanders, but the WorldTour rolls on to Spain this week. The eyes of many cycling fans may be fixed on the Northern Classics, but the Tour of the Basque Country has drawn an impressive startlist of climbing specialists who are hoping to nab results on an always hilly parcours.
The Route
The 2016 edition of País Vasco covers familiar ground: every stage has climbs, and the event closes out with a time trial. It’s a formula that has made for exciting racing in the past.
The Tour of the Basque Country is lacking in terms of high-grade, long mountain climbs, but there is no shortage of tough rollers on pretty much every stage of the race. That includes the time trial, which involves a challenging climb of its own.
The Contenders
There are several top names on the startlist, but Alberto Contador earns himself the first mention. He’s won in País Vasco multiple times and it’s hard to best against him given the form he’s shown so far this year. He may be renowned for his climbing prowess but the course suits him better than most of his top rivals, as he’s among the best GC riders out there when it comes to racing against the clock.
Nairo Quintana would probably prefer more climbing and no time trial. He can’t be counted out on any course with a few climbs, but he’ll have tough time putting his Catalunya-winning uphill ability on these smaller ascents, and the TT could hurt his chances too. Ion Izagirre is a great alternative for Movistar.
Joaquím Rodríguez is the defending champ. The veteran surprised pretty much everyone with a brilliant time trial performance last year. If he can replicate it, watch out for a repeat win from Purito—but that may be a tall order for a rider who has been pretty quiet so far this year.
Fabio Aru packs plenty of punch and will likely be on the lookout for any opportunities to get clear. He’s a dangerous rider and worth watching on the climbs even if his TTing abilities leave something to be desired.
The same is true for new Sky acquisition Mikel Landa. Verstaile Sergio Henao, runner up in 2015, could be the team leader again this year.
Thibaut Pinot looks very strong after his Critérium International win. With a TT victory in that race under his belt, the Frenchman could be very dangerous if left within striking distance on the final day.
Simon Spilak, Rui Costa, Diego Ulissi, Dan Martin, Adam and Simon Yates, Bauke Mollema, and Tony Gallopin are among the others who could be in the mix this week in Spain.
The Stagehunters
In stagehunting terms, it’s all about the puncheurs at the Tour of the Basque Country. Beyond those already mentioned as GC contenders, Michael Albasini and Tom-Jelte sSagter will be worth keeping an eye on today.
VeloHuman Top 10 Overall Favorites
Winner: Alberton Contador
Podium: Nairo Quintana, Sergio Henao
Other Top Contenders: Ilnur Zakarin, Thibaut Pinot, Joaquím Rodríguez, Adam Yates, Rui Costa, Ion Izagirre, Bauke Mollema
Photo by Dane Cash.