The Race - The Tour Of The Basque Country, another fix for cycling fans who are suffering withdrawals from the Spring Classics and also more crucial practice time for climbers aiming at the Grand Tours.
The Route - Has plenty for the climbers, as one would expect, and also a long flat time trial to shake things up towards the end of the week.
Stage 1: Monday, April 2 - Zarautz/Zarautz (162.1 km) - A rollercoaster of a day and an early start for those with overall ambitions as five climbs, the last of which is 2.4km long at 9%, pepper the route before a fast drop into the finish of just 6.5 kilometres. Earlier on as a softener we also have the very popular Jaizkibel for good measure.
Stage 2: Tuesday, April 3 - Zarautz/Bermeo (166.7 km) - Very similar territory to the first day’s parcours and the same riders can expect to get involved once again. There are four official climbs but plenty more ascending than that and the finale, the San Pelato, which is 3.4km at 8.3% before what’s just a 6.6 kilometre drop towards the line.
Stage 3: Wednesday, April 4 - Bermeo/Valdegovía (184.8 km) - A rolling day with two early third category climbs and one that looks more difficult than the profile suggests although a break might have strong designs on victory with tougher tests through the week although the territory is constantly rolling.
Stage 4: Thursday, April 5 - Lodosa/Lodosa (19.4 km ITT) - A big day not only in the general classification but also for those who are aiming to improve their efforts against the clock. Pan flat around the city of Lodosa and long enough for significant gaps.
Stage 5: Friday, April 6 - Vitoria-Gasteiz/Eibar (164.7 km) - A really tough backend to a day in the mountains. The Elousua Gaina (8.1km at 6.9%) is a proper straightener and then after a ride through the valley before the savage double header of the Endoia Gaina (7km at 5.1%) and the Azkuri Gaina (5.5km at 7.6%) before a descent into Eibar.
3.png)
Stage 6: Saturday, April 7 - Eibar/Arrate (122.2 km) -
Short but not sweet to end the action through the week. Eight climbs in 122 kilometres and just unmissable.
The Favourites - Where Quick-Step have dominated the classics season, Movistar have had a tight grip on the stage races and once again they have plenty of firepower. Mikel Landa took the Queen Stage at Tirreno-Adriatico and has looked just as good as he did for Sky, whilst Nairo Quintana made a good return to racing in Europe at the Volta a Catalunya when he was second. Both will love the parcours but will lose time against the clock on Thursday and a lot of it so they’ll need to be active early.
Romain Bardet (AG2R-La Mondiale) was a fine third there and has generally had a fine start to the season. The time trial is another big problem, but he’ll enjoy a lot of the finishes, especially stage 1 and 2, and packs a quicker sprint than most.
The Izagirre brothers have had a wonderful star to the season at Bahrain-Merida and can sprint quicker than most, whilst Ion is good against the clock and must be eyeing up a podium shot. Richie Porte and Tejay van Garderen (BMC) are still building towards peak form and we’ll see more of them later.
Julian Alaphilippe (QuickStep-Floors) faded up the summit finish at Paris-Nice but he had been very through the whole week and has at least three stages where he can hope to take time, whilst he’s better against the clock than many of the main contenders here.
The question for Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) will not be about if he wins the Thursday time trial, but how much time he can take from his rivals. A five-second winner of the time trial last year, that had a significant climb and descent whilst this year’s will be just flat. He was unlucky not to contend overall at Tirreno, where a mechanical and fall on the queen stage hurt his chances. Previously he had been really impressive when beating subsequent stage winner Adam Yates and the in form Tiesj Benoot on the run into Trevi and the parcours looks made for him.
Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-Drapac) won’t be far away, whilst Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin), Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky, assuming he rides after the Tour of Flanders yesterday), and Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) all need serious consideration.
