Vuelta al País Vasco

Infobox Cycling race
name = Vuelta al País Vasco
current_event = 2008 Vuelta al País Vasco


date = Early-April
region = Basque Country, Spain
english = Tour of the Basque Country
localnames = Vuelta al País Vasco es icon
Euskal Herriko txirrindulari itzulia eu icon
nickname =
discipline = Road
competition = UCI ProTour
type = Stage-race
organiser =
director =
first = 1924
number = 48 (as of 2008)
last =
firstwinner = flagicon|FRA Francis Pélissier
mostwins = flagicon|ESP José Antonio Gonzalez (4 wins)
mostrecent = flagicon|ESP Alberto ContadorThe Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco (Basque: "Euskal Herriko txirrindulari itzulia", English: "Tour of the Basque Country") is an annual cycling stage race held in the Basque Country in April.

The first race was held in 1924, but between 1935 and 1969 the race was not held. However between 1939 and 1969 similar races were organised. The race is mentioned and described in Ernest Hemingway's novel 'The Sun Also Rises'.

The first winner was Francis Pélissier from France. The first winner of the 'modern' Vuelta al País Vasco country (1969) was Jacques Anquetil. The most successful rider in the Vuelta al País Vasco country was José Antonio Gonzalez Linares, who won the race four times in 1972, 1975, 1977 and 1978] The most recent edition (2008) was won by Alberto Contador from Spain.

Because the Basque Country is a mountainous area there are hardly any flat stages, and the event's winners therefore tend to be good climbers. Most climbs in the Vuelta al País Vasco are not high, but often they are quite steep.

Winners

External links

*es icon [http://servicios.diariovasco.com/vueltapaisvasco2005/portada.htm Official website]