2017 Tour of the Basque Country

The 2017 Tour of the Basque Country was a road cycling stage race that took place between 3 and 8 April. It was the 57th edition of the Tour of the Basque Country and was the fourteenth event of the 2017 UCI World Tour.[1][2]

2017 Tour of the Basque Country
2017 UCI World Tour, race 14 of 37
Race details
Dates3–8 April 2017
Stages6
Distance828.8 km (515.0 mi)
Winning time20h 41' 25"
Results
Winner  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) (Movistar Team)
  Second  Alberto Contador (ESP) (Trek–Segafredo)
  Third  Ion Izagirre (ESP) (Bahrain–Merida)
Points  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) (Movistar Team)
Mountains  Alex Howes (USA) (Cannondale–Drapac)
Sprints  Lluís Mas (ESP) (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA)
  Team Bahrain–Merida

The race was won for the first time by Alejandro Valverde of the Movistar Team,[3] who took the race lead on the penultimate day after winning the queen stage in Eibar, before further extending the lead by finishing second in the final-day individual time trial; Valverde's finishes on those stages aided him to take the points classification from Team Sunweb's Michael Matthews at the death. Valverde finished 17 seconds clear of four-time race winner Alberto Contador (Trek–Segafredo) while the all-Spanish podium was completed by the national time trial champion, Ion Izagirre, a further four seconds in arrears of Contador for the Bahrain–Merida team.

In the race's other classifications, Cannondale–Drapac's Alex Howes won the polka-dot jersey as winner of the mountains classification, Lluís Mas (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA) was the winner of the intermediate sprints classification while Bahrain–Merida won the teams classification.

Route

The full route of the 2017 Tour of the Basque Country was announced on 23 March 2017.[4]

Stage schedule
Stage Date Route Distance Type Winner
1 3 April Pamplona to Valle de Egüés 153.3 km (95 mi) Hilly stage  Michael Matthews (AUS)
2 4 April Pamplona to Elciego 173.4 km (108 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Michael Albasini (SUI)
3 5 April Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastián 160.5 km (100 mi) Medium-mountain stage  David de la Cruz (ESP)
4 6 April San Sebastián to Bilbao 174.1 km (108 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Primož Roglič (SLO)
5 7 April Bilbao to Eibar 139.8 km (87 mi) Mountain stage  Alejandro Valverde (ESP)
6 8 April Eibar to Eibar 27.7 km (17 mi) Individual time trial  Primož Roglič (SLO)

Participating teams

As the Tour of the Basque Country was a UCI World Tour event, all eighteen UCI WorldTeams were invited automatically and were obliged to enter a team in the race. Two UCI Professional Continental teams – Cofidis and Caja Rural–Seguros RGA – were awarded wildcard places, bringing the number of teams to twenty.[5] As each team included eight riders, a total of 160 riders started the first stage.

UCI WorldTeams

UCI Professional Continental teams

Stages

Stage 1
3 April 2017 — Pamplona to Valle de Egüés, 153.3 km (95 mi)[6]
Result of Stage 1 & General classification after Stage 1[7]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Michael Matthews (AUS) Team Sunweb 3h 45' 07"
2  Jay McCarthy (AUS) Bora–Hansgrohe + 0"
3  Simon Gerrans (AUS) Orica–Scott + 0"
4  Jhonatan Restrepo (COL) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 0"
5  Sean De Bie (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 0"
6  Maximiliano Richeze (ARG) Quick-Step Floors + 0"
7  Rigoberto Urán (COL) Cannondale–Drapac + 0"
8  Anthony Roux (FRA) FDJ + 0"
9  Ben Swift (GBR) UAE Team Emirates + 0"
10  Gregor Mühlberger (AUT) Bora–Hansgrohe + 0"

Stage 2
4 April 2017 — Pamplona to Elciego, 173.4 km (108 mi)[8]
Result of Stage 2[9]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Michael Albasini (SUI) Orica–Scott 4h 35' 22"
2  Maximiliano Richeze (ARG) Quick-Step Floors + 0"
3  Sean De Bie (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 0"
4  Michael Matthews (AUS) Team Sunweb + 0"
5  Paul Martens (GER) LottoNL–Jumbo + 0"
6  Matej Mohorič (SLO) UAE Team Emirates + 0"
7  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team + 0"
8  Rudy Molard (FRA) FDJ + 0"
9  Manuele Mori (ITA) UAE Team Emirates + 0"
10  Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) Team Sky + 0"
General classification after Stage 2[10]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Michael Matthews (AUS) Team Sunweb 8h 20' 29"
2  Maximiliano Richeze (ARG) Quick-Step Floors + 0"
3  Sean De Bie (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 0"
4  Michael Schwarzmann (GER) Bora–Hansgrohe + 0"
5  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team + 0"
6  Jay McCarthy (AUS) Bora–Hansgrohe + 0"
7  Matej Mohorič (SLO) UAE Team Emirates + 0"
8  Patrick Konrad (AUT) Bora–Hansgrohe + 0"
9  Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) Team Sky + 0"
10  Anthony Roux (FRA) FDJ + 0"

Stage 3
5 April 2017 — Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastián, 160.5 km (100 mi)[11]
Result of Stage 3[12]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  David de la Cruz (ESP) Quick-Step Floors 3h 54' 25"
2  Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) Team Sky + 3"
3  Jay McCarthy (AUS) Bora–Hansgrohe + 3"
4  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team + 3"
5  Giovanni Visconti (ITA) Bahrain–Merida + 3"
6  Rudy Molard (FRA) FDJ + 3"
7  Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates + 3"
8  Patrick Konrad (AUT) Bora–Hansgrohe + 3"
9  Tosh Van der Sande (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 3"
10  Warren Barguil (FRA) Team Sunweb + 3"
General classification after Stage 3[13]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  David de la Cruz (ESP) Quick-Step Floors 12h 14' 54"
2  Jay McCarthy (AUS) Bora–Hansgrohe + 3"
3  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team + 3"
4  Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) Team Sky + 3"
5  Patrick Konrad (AUT) Bora–Hansgrohe + 3"
6  Rudy Molard (FRA) FDJ + 3"
7  Tosh Van der Sande (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 3"
8  Luis León Sánchez (ESP) Astana + 3"
9  Romain Bardet (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale + 3"
10  Rubén Fernández (ESP) Movistar Team + 3"

Stage 4
6 April 2017 — San Sebastián to Bilbao, 174.1 km (108 mi)[14]
Result of Stage 4[15]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Primož Roglič (SLO) LottoNL–Jumbo 4h 23' 46"
2  Michael Matthews (AUS) Team Sunweb + 3"
3  Giovanni Visconti (ITA) Bahrain–Merida + 3"
4  Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) Team Sky + 3"
5  Simon Yates (GBR) Orica–Scott + 3"
6  Patrick Konrad (AUT) Bora–Hansgrohe + 3"
7  Rudy Molard (FRA) FDJ + 3"
8  Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates + 3"
9  Emanuel Buchmann (GER) Bora–Hansgrohe + 3"
10  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team + 3"
General classification after Stage 4[16]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  David de la Cruz (ESP) Quick-Step Floors 16h 38' 43"
2  Primož Roglič (SLO) LottoNL–Jumbo + 0"
3  Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) Team Sky + 3"
4  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team + 3"
5  Patrick Konrad (AUT) Bora–Hansgrohe + 3"
6  Rudy Molard (FRA) FDJ + 3"
7  George Bennett (NZL) LottoNL–Jumbo + 3"
8  Rubén Fernández (ESP) Movistar Team + 3"
9  Rigoberto Urán (COL) Cannondale–Drapac + 3"
10  Romain Bardet (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale + 3"

Stage 5
7 April 2017 — Bilbao to Eibar, 139.8 km (87 mi)[17]
Result of Stage 5[18]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team 3h 26' 32"
2  Romain Bardet (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale + 0"
3  Rigoberto Urán (COL) Cannondale–Drapac + 0"
4  Michael Woods (CAN) Cannondale–Drapac + 0"
5  Louis Meintjes (RSA) UAE Team Emirates + 0"
6  Alberto Contador (ESP) Trek–Segafredo + 3"
7  Ion Izagirre (ESP) Bahrain–Merida + 15"
8  Sergio Henao (COL) Team Sky + 15"
9  Simon Yates (GBR) Orica–Scott + 15"
10  David de la Cruz (ESP) Quick-Step Floors + 22"
General classification after Stage 5[19]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team 20h 05' 18"
2  Rigoberto Urán (COL) Cannondale–Drapac + 0"
3  Romain Bardet (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale + 0"
4  Louis Meintjes (RSA) UAE Team Emirates + 0"
5  Michael Woods (CAN) Cannondale–Drapac + 0"
6  Alberto Contador (ESP) Trek–Segafredo + 3"
7  Ion Izagirre (ESP) Bahrain–Merida + 15"
8  Sergio Henao (COL) Team Sky + 15"
9  David de la Cruz (ESP) Quick-Step Floors + 19"
10  Patrick Konrad (AUT) Bora–Hansgrohe + 22"

Stage 6
8 April 2017 — Eibar to Eibar, 27.7 km (17 mi), individual time trial (ITT)[20][21]
Result of Stage 6[22]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Primož Roglič (SLO) LottoNL–Jumbo 35' 58"
2  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team + 9"
3  Ion Izagirre (ESP) Bahrain–Merida + 15"
4  Alberto Contador (ESP) Trek–Segafredo + 23"
5  David de la Cruz (ESP) Quick-Step Floors + 34"
6  Michael Matthews (AUS) Team Sunweb + 41"
7  Vasil Kiryienka (BLR) Team Sky + 52"
8  Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates + 52"
9  Víctor de la Parte (ESP) Movistar Team + 1' 04"
10  George Bennett (NZL) LottoNL–Jumbo + 1' 23"
Final general classification[23]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team 20h 41' 25"
2  Alberto Contador (ESP) Trek–Segafredo + 17"
3  Ion Izagirre (ESP) Bahrain–Merida + 21"
4  David de la Cruz (ESP) Quick-Step Floors + 44"
5  Primož Roglič (SLO) LottoNL–Jumbo + 59"
6  Louis Meintjes (RSA) UAE Team Emirates + 1' 19"
7  Patrick Konrad (AUT) Bora–Hansgrohe + 1' 40"
8  Sergio Henao (COL) Team Sky + 1' 51"
9  Rigoberto Urán (COL) Cannondale–Drapac + 1' 56"
10  Simon Špilak (SLO) Team Katusha–Alpecin + 2' 01"

Classification leadership table

In the 2017 Tour of the Basque Country, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, the leader received a yellow jersey.[24] This classification was considered the most important of the 2017 Tour of the Basque Country, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.

Points for the mountains classification
Position 1 2 3 4 5 6
Points for Category 1 1086421
Points for Category 2 64210
Points for Category 3 3210

Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a white jersey.[24] In the points classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. For winning a stage, a rider earned 25 points, with 20 for second, 16 for third, 14 for fourth, 12 for fifth, 10 for sixth with a point fewer per place down to a single point for 15th place. There was also a sprints classification for the points awarded at intermediate sprints on each stage (except for the time trial stage) – awarded on a 3–2–1 scale – where the leadership of which was marked by a blue jersey.[24]

The fourth jersey represented the mountains classification, marked by a white and red polka-dot jersey.[24] Points for this classification were won by the first riders to the top of each categorised climb, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs.[24] There was also a classification for teams, in which the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest total time.[24]

Stage Winner General classification
 Points classification
 Mountains classification
 Sprints classification
 Teams classification
1[25] Michael Matthews Michael Matthews Michael Matthews Yoann Bagot Lluís Mas Bora–Hansgrohe
2[26] Michael Albasini
3[27] David de la Cruz David de la Cruz Alex Howes
4[28] Primož Roglič Jonathan Lastra Bahrain–Merida
5[29] Alejandro Valverde Alejandro Valverde Lluís Mas
6[3] Primož Roglič Alejandro Valverde
Final[3] Alejandro Valverde Alejandro Valverde Alex Howes Lluís Mas Bahrain–Merida
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References
  1. "UCI expands WorldTour to 37 events". Cycling News. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  2. "The UCI reveals expanded UCI WorldTour calendar for 2017". UCI. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  3. "Valverde wins the Vuelta al Pais Vasco". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  4. "Vuelta País Vasco 2017: Etapas y perfiles" [Tour of the Basque Country: Stages and profiles]. Ciclo21 (in Spanish). CiclismoDigital S.L. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  5. Brochure 2017, p. 73.
  6. Brochure 2017, pp. 17–23.
  7. "Pais Vasco, stage 1: Matthews sprints to first win of season". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  8. Brochure 2017, pp. 27–31.
  9. Robertshaw, Henry (4 April 2017). "Michael Albasini takes unexpected stage win in Tour of the Basque Country stage two". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  10. "Pais Vasco: Albasini wins tricky stage 2 sprint". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  11. Brochure 2017, pp. 33–39.
  12. Robertshaw, Henry (5 April 2017). "David de la Cruz takes stunning solo win in Tour of the Basque Country stage three". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  13. "Pais Vasco: De la Cruz wins stage 3, claims overall lead". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  14. Brochure 2017, pp. 41–47.
  15. Adams, Tom (6 April 2017). "'It'll be a tricky night,' says Alberto Contador after nightmare day". Eurosport. Discovery Communications. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  16. "4. Donostia / Bilbo". Tour of the Basque Country. Organizaciones Ciclistas Euskadi. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  17. Brochure 2017, pp. 49–55.
  18. Wynn, Nigel (7 April 2017). "Alejandro Valverde wins Tour of the Basque Country mountain stage to set up tense finale". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  19. "Pais Vasco, stage 5: Valverde wins mountaintop sprint". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  20. "6. Eibar / Eibar". Tour of the Basque Country. Organizaciones Ciclistas Euskadi. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  21. Brochure 2017, pp. 57–61.
  22. "País Vasco: Roglic wins time trial finale, Valverde claims overall victory". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  23. "6. Eibar / Eibar". Tour of the Basque Country. Organizaciones Ciclistas Euskadi. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  24. Brochure 2017, p. 9.
  25. "Vuelta al Pais Vasco: Matthews claims first stage victory". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  26. "Pais Vasco: Albasini wins stage 2". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  27. Cash, Dane (5 April 2017). "De la Cruz solos to stage 3 victory in Vuelta al Pais Vasco". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  28. "Pais Vasco: Primoz Roglic wins stage 4". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  29. "Valverde wins queen stage of Vuelta al Pais Vasco". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.

Sources
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