Spanish teams preparing for the Vuelta al País Vasco

By Monika Prell

Teams Saunier Duval-Prodir and Euskaltel-Euskadi are preparing the Vuelta al País Vasco that begins on Monday, April 9, and ends Saturday, April 14. Today, the Euskaltel boys will train on sections of the second stage, which starts in Urretxu and finishes in Karrantza. Under the supervision of Miguel Madariaga and Igor González de Galdeano, the team will cover the last 70 kilometres of this stage.

The team Saunier Duval-Prodir, winner of the last edition with its rider José Angel Gomez Marchante, will also train on the route of the Vuelta al País Vasco. On Wednesday, team leaders Iban Mayo and Koldo Gil will examine the parcours of the last two stages together with their teammates Iker Camaño, Juan José Cobo and David De La Fuente.

They will train on the last sections of stage five, with the start in Lekunberri and finish in Oiartzun (the location of the final stage, an individual time trial). Friday's stage will take the peloton over four serious mountain passes in the last 80 kilometres, the Altos de Agiña (1st category), Aritxulegi (2nd category), Jaizkibel (1st category) and Erlaitz (2nd category).