Print

Mail

wiki links

Contador sets pace in Basque Country

Spain’s Alberto Contador, riding for the Astana team, won the first stage of the Tour of the Basque Country over a 137km course around the northern town of Legazpi on Monday.

Contador finished the stage in 3 hours, 39 minutes and 22 seconds, three seconds up on compatriot Ezequiel Mosquera of the Karpin-Galicia team, with Mosquera’s team-mate David Herrero heading the main chasing group a further five seconds adrift.

The opening stage of the six-day long Vuelta a Pais Vasco, which starts and finishes in Legazpia, featured seven climbs and was marked by pouring rain. Contador, the reigning Tour de France champion and Astana team leader, took maximum advantage of the adverse weather conditions.

Mosquera broke away to attack the final hill, forcing Contador - whose team have been barred from this year’s Tour de France as a result of doping scandals over the past two years — to set off after him with 8km to go.

Mosquera did well to stay ahead of the following peloton, which included pre-race favorites Damiano Cunego of the Lampre team and Gerolsteiner rider David Rebellin, to finish in second spot.

The second stage of the Vuelta a Pais Vasco is a 153km run from Legazpia to Erandio.
This story has been viewed 674 times.