Tour of the Basque Country 2016: Favourites
The Tour of the Basque Country is marked by steep climbs. Perfect for lightweights such as Quintana, Contador and Rodriguez, so it doesn't come as a surprise they won last three editions. The ITT may play a crucial role for the overall win in 2016. Cyclingstage.com brings you the favourites to take the upcoming Tour of the Basque Country.
[Underneath was written prior to the start of the Tour of the Basque Country.]
In theory, Alberto Contador is the big favourite to win the overall. Perfect climber and a good time trialist. Those are important factors as the Tour of the Basque Country concludes with an individual time trial in stage 6. Powerhouses like Aru, Quintana and Rodriguez are all lesser time trialists.
All in all, the race is not just a climber’s party, as most stages end with a drop while underway a multitude of peaks lay waiting.
Tim Wellens could be a serious dark horse. The 24-year old Belgian has some impressive victories under his belt and he is both strong in the chronorace and on steep climbs. Last two edition he took the Eneco Tour by outperforming competition in the Ardennes. In a way the climbs in his home country and the Basque Country are similar: short and steep.
The start list boasts four ex-winners. Samuel Sánchez (2012), Nairo Quintana (2013), Alberto Contador (2014) and Joaquim Rodriguez (2015) know what it’s like to win the Tour of the Basque Country.
Favourites Tour of the Basque Country 2016:
*** Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana, Fabio Aru, Tim Wellens
** Joaquim Rodriguez, Thibaut Pinot, Mikel Landa, Bauke Mollema
* Robert Gesink, Warren Barguil, Sergio Henao, Adam Yates
Tour of the Basque Country Route
Tour of the Basque Country Riders
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Stage 6 – Contador powers to stage win and overall victory - Tour of the Basque Country 2016 Stage 5 – Huge solo victory Diego Rosa, Sergio Henao new leader - Tour of the Basque Country 2016 Stage 4 – Stage win Sammy Sanchez, Kelderman new leader - Tour of the Basque Country 2016 Stage 3 – Stephen Cummings soloes to tight victory, Landa retains lead - Tour of the Basque Country 2016 Stage 2 - Landa bests Kelderman on steep closing climb to take leader's jersey - Tour of the Basque Country 2016 Stage 1 - Luis León Sánchez wins after perfect descent - Tour of the Basque Country 2016 Route stage 1: Etxebarria – Markina-Xemein - Tour of the Basque Country 2016 Route stage 2: Markina-Xemein – Baranbio - Tour of the Basque Country 2016 Route stage 3: Vitoria-Gasteiz - Lesaka - Tour of the Basque Country 2016 Route stage 4: Lesaka – Orio - Tour of the Basque Country 2016 Route stage 5: Orio – Arrate (Eibar) - Tour of the Basque Country 2016 Route stage 6: Eibar – Eibar - Tour of the Basque Country 2016 More articles Giro 2025: Hoole wins rain-hit ITT, Del Toro retains lead
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