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The winner of this years Vuelta ciclista al País Vasco will certainly have to work hard for his moment of glory on the podium. It is a very demanding 6 stage race, and in truth there is not an easy stage amongst those six.
While the hard men if the paves recover from yesterdays Tour of Flanders and prepare for the forthcoming races, the climbers and the stage race men are naturally gathering in force in Spain ready to flex muscles to see who has the form for Ardennes and the major Tours ahead.
It is a star studded cast which start this race and Saunier Duval come in strength and depth to defend the leaders jersey won last year by José-Angel Gomez-Marchante, he is supported by Koldo Gil, Iban Mayo and Gilberto Simoni, that’s some support!
Almost every team is sending a top notch team, and riders include; Carlos Sastre, Fränk Schleck and Jens Voigt (Team CSC), David Lopez, Joaquin Rodriguez and Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Denis Menchov and Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank), Alberto Contador and Egoi Martinez (Discovery Channel), Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital), Davide Rebellin and Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner), Axel Merckx and Michael Rogers (T-Mobile), Matthias Kessler (Astana), Anthony Charteau (Crédit Agricole), Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas), Sylvain Calzati (Ag2r Prévoyance), Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto), Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Igor Astarloa and Andriy Grivko (Team Milram), Thomas Voeckler and Pierrick Fédrigo (Bouygues Telecom), Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux), Alexandrer Khatuntsev (Unibet.com), Francisco Mancebo and Oscar Sevilla (Relax-Gam).
Despite the difficulties of the first 5 stages which includes numerous climbs and two uphill finishes, the final Individual Time Trial will probably decide the race. As usual the rider to win this race will be a punchy climber and fast finisher who can hold his own against the clock.
Daily Peloton Men to watch
Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R), the Italian seems to have settled in well with his new French Team and may do well in the two stages for sprinters.
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) so close in Paris Nice when Rebellin has form he can usually keep it for a while.
José Rujano (Unibet), it seems a long time since José was thrilling us all in the Giro d’Italia 2005.
Janez Brajkovic (Discovery Channel), both he and team captain Alberto Coontador are a joy to watch in the hills.
The stages
Etapa 1: Urretxu- Urretxu (139 Km.)- 6 Cat Two climbs, 3 Cat three including finish
Etapa 2: Urretxu - Karrantza (191,55 Km.)- 5 Cat Two climbs, 3 Cat Three- finish on Cat two climb
Etapa 3: Karrantza - Vitoria- Gasteiz (173 Km.)- 1 cat Two climb, 5 Cat three, possible sprinters stage
Etapa 4: Vitoria- Gasteiz - Lekunberri (176 Km.) 2 Cat One climbs, 2 Cat Two climbs, 2 cat Three, finish just after Cat One climb.
Etapa 5: Lekunberri - Oiartzun (169 Km.)1 Cat One climb, 3 Cat Two climbs, 2 Cat Three.
Etapa 6: Oiartzun - Oiartzun (14 Km.) Individual Time Trial
Roll of Honor
I 1924. Francis Pellisier
II 1925. August Verdyck
III 1926. Nicolas Franz
IV 1927. Victor Fontan
V 1928. Maurice Dewaule
VI 1929. Maurice Dewaule
VII 1930. Mariano Canardo
VIII 1935. Gino Bartali
IX 1969. Jaques Anquetil
X 1970. Luis Pedro Santamarina
XI 1971. Luis Ocaña
XII 1972. J. A. González Linares
XIII 1973. Luis Ocaña
XIV 1974. Miguel Mari Lasa
XV 1975. J. . González Linares
XVI 1976. Gian Battista Baronchelli
XVII 1977. J. A. González Linares XL
XVIII 1978. J. A. González Linares
XIX 1979. Giovanni Battaglin
XX 1980. Alberto Fernández
XXI 1981. Silviano Contini
XXII 1982. José Luis Laguia
XXIII 1983. Julián Gorospe
XXIV 1984. Sean Kelly
XV 1985. Peio Ruiz Cabestany
XVI 1986. Sean Kelly
XVII 1987. Sean Kelly
XVIII 1988. Erik Breukink
XIX 1989. Stephen Roche
XXX 1990. Julián Gorospe
XXXI 1991. Claudio Chiapucci
XXXII 1992. Tony Rominger
XXXIII 1993. Tony Rominger
XXXIV 1994. Tony Rominger
XXXV 1995. Alex Zuelle
XXXVI 1996. Francesco Casagrande
XXXVII 1997. Alex Zuelle
XXXVIII 1998. Iñigo Cuesta
XXXIX 1999. Laurent Jalabert
XL 2000 Andreas Klöden
XLI 2001. Raimondas Rumsas
XLII 2002. Aitor Osa
XLIII 2003. Iban Mayo
XLIV 2004. Denis Menchow
XLV 2005. Danilo Di Luca
XLVI 2006. Gómez Marchante
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