48th Vuelta al País Vasco - ProT

Spain, April 7-12, 2008

Photography

Stage 6 - April 12: Orio - Aia - Orio (ITT), 20km

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Images by Susanne Goetze/cyclinginside.com

Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Rabobank) finished 42nd on the time trial.
Dutch rider Robert Gesink (Rabobank) was fifth on the time trial finale.
Frenchman Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) took ninth spot.
Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Karpin Galicia) could only manage 15th spot.
Italian Marco Pinotti (Team High Road) sneaked in to the top 10.
Alberto Contador (Astana) again rode strongly to claim another stage, and the overall victory.
Belgian Maxime Monfort (Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone) managed sixth place for his French squad.
Fans willed on Frank Schleck (Team CSC) as he rode to 17th spot.
Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Euskaltel - Euskadi) finished just outside the top 10 in 11th spot.
Ruben Lobato Elvira (Saunier Duval - Scott) dropped nearly four minutes on the final stage.
David De La Fuente Rasilla (Saunier Duval - Scott) dropped time on the time trial, but still claimed a top 25 position overall.
Italian Damiano Cunego (Lampre) claimed an impressive fourth position.
Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) continues his preparation towards the Tour de France.
Dutch Thomas Dekker (Rabobank) took third spot just 27 seconds behind the winner.
José Angel Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval - Scott) was 30th on the day, but finished 19th overall.
Kim Kirchen (Team High Road) took 12th spot.
Stage podium (L-R): Cadel Evans (Silence - Lotto), Alberto Contador (Astana) and Thomas Dekker (Rabobank).
The top three from the final stage blow the lids on some bubbly as the Spanish race comes to an end.
Spain's Alberto Contador (Astana) finished the week the way he started it - on the podium.

Images by Monika Prell/Cyclingnews.com

Euskaltel - Euskadi's Jorge Azanza Soto and Inaki Isasi Flores ready for the time trial.
Daniel Navarro Garcia (Astana) warms up for the time trial.
Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel - Euskadi) finished 60th in the time trial.
Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi) prepares for the final stage.
Dutch rider Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) was relaxed ahead of the last stage.
Ruben Lobato Elvira (Saunier Duval - Scott) was glad the previous day's rain had cleared for the time trial.
Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Karpin Galicia) with his former sport director Oscar Guerrero.
Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi) finished 39th.
David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne) finished the event in 40th spot.
Portugal's Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Astana) managed 28th on the time trial.
Russian Eduard Vorganov (Karpin Galicia) put down the 50th fastest time.
Some Caisse d'Epargne fans out to support the riders.
Alexander Efimkin (Quick Step) dropped nearly four minutes.
Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Karpin Galicia) took 15th in the final stage.
Belgian Maxime Monfort (Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone) was sixth in the time trial.
Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Euskaltel - Euskadi) claimed 11th in the time trial.
Alberto Contador (Astana) took another victory over Australian Cadel Evans.
Spain's Alberto Contador (Astana) feels at home with the media, having had lots of practice since his 2007 Tour de France win.

Stage 5 - April 11: Vitoria - Gasteiz - Orio, 162km

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Images by cyclinginside.com

Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi) exhausted at the finish.
Contador had to explain to the media why he lost a race, which is rare these days.
Contador got second in a rainy affair in the Basque Country.
Cunego was happy with his win but the smile was hard to produce after a cold, wet stage.
Damiano Cunego (Lampre) didn't have an umbrella when he crossed the line, like the many spectators, but at that moment he didn't care.
Thomas Dekker (Rabobank) leads in Kim Kirchen (High Road) and Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner). All were equally soaked.
Ezequiel Mosquera (Karpin Galicia) doesn't look happy with the weather, but now he is done for the day.
Ruben Lobato (Saunier Duval) checks if the Lampre team-mates are happy with the win, but everybody was too cold to celebrate.
Everybody was equally miserable in the finish.
Vladimir Karpets (Caisse d'Epargne) has been having a much quieter year than last season's spring.
Grischa Niermann (Rabobank) takes the turn carefully.
All the favourites were sure to be up front on the turn heading toward the finish.
The peloton spread out as they slowed to take a sharp turn.
Iker Camano (Saunier Duval) leads a couple Lampre riders.
Juan Manuel Garate (Quick Step) decided not to contest the finish.
The group heads into the finishing chute.
Belgian Mario Aerts (Silence - Lotto) is use to these conditions.
Astana in control of a group as it protects the race lead of Alberto Contador.
It was a wet old day in Spain.
Italy's Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) continues to hold eighth position overall.
France's Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) gives his all on the climb.
A Saunier Duval - Scott rider shows the strain of the tough conditions.
Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi) consolidated his mountains classification lead during his escape with Bernhard Kohl (Gerolsteiner).
Russian Vladimir Karpets (Caisse d'Epargne) lost over four minutes on the stage.
Austrian Bernhard Kohl (Gerolsteiner) and Spain's Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi) escape on the fifth stage.
Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi) and break away companion Bernhard Kohl (Gerolsteiner).
Despite the difficult conditions the break away stayed away for much of the race.
The peloton was clearly keen on getting out of the rain and back to their hotels.
Italian Damiano Cunego (Lampre) enjoys his victory in Spain.
Damiano Cunego (Lampre) celebrates on the podium with his prize.
Alberto Contador (Astana) continued to lead the race, but there's still a 20 kilometre time trial ahead.

Images by Monika Prell/Cyclingnews.com

Alberto Fernández De La Puebla (Saunier Duval - Scott) is interviewed before the start.
Local rider Inaki Isasi Flores (Euskaltel - Euskadi) is from the Vitoria region.
Iban Velasco Murillo (Euskaltel - Euskadi) finished the day down in 98th.
Joaquim Rodriguez (Caisse d'Epargne) finished in the lead bunch on today's stage.
Forner professional Gorka Beloki and his wife came to see the start in their home town of Vitoria.
Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Euskaltel - Euskadi) is interviewed before the start.
Xabier Zandio Echaide (Caisse d'Epargne) was one of the last to cross the line today.
Some young Saunier Duval-Scott fans braved the weather to support their team.
Italian Damiano Cunego (Lampre) gets swamped by the media after winning the fifth stage.

Stage 4 - April 10: Viana - Vitoria - Gasteiz, 171km

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Kirchen denies Possoni a stage win, but keeps it in the team.
Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval) not looking to thrilled with the spring weather.
Iker Camaño (Saunier Duval) is in a strong position for the overall going into the time trial.
Astana controls the bunch.
Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi) is no stranger to breakaways, having been most aggressive rider in the 2007 Tour de France.
Chris Horner (Astana) leads his team on the front.
Kirchen gets the traditional Basque hat on the podium.
Kim Kirchen (High Road) takes the win just ahead of Possoni.
Possoni, Matt Lloyd and Tom Stubbe (FdJ) surviving in the breakaway.
Astana has gotten a lot of time at the front protecting Contador's lead since stage 1.
Daniele Righi (Lampre) and his team-mates after failing to make the day-long break.
Saunier Duval did a lot of work to bring back the break, only to be denied a stage win.
Kirchen pops the cap on another stage victory.
Saunier Duval has been shut out of any stage wins in this Basque tour.
Possoni makes a last ditch effort to take the stage, but his team-mate Kirchen is coming on strong.
The landscape was a lush green after all the spring rains.
Alberto Contador (Astana) had a relaxed day in yellow.

Images by cyclinginside.com

Team Astana controls the pace for its leader Alberto Contador.
Alberto Contador (Astana) looks comfortable in the leader's jersey.
Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi) leads the escape.
Luxemburger Kim Kirchen (High Road), 29, wins stage four of the 48th País Vasco.
Kim Kirchen (High Road) captures the stage win of the País Vasco.
Michael Albasini (Liquigas) finished well today in 4th.
Dutch champion Koos Moerenhout and Rabobank team-mate Theo Eltink before the start.
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) makes some final adjustments.
Juan Manuel Garate (Quick Step).
Schleck and Kirchen share a joke.
Carlos Sastre Candil (CSC).
Kim Kirchen (Team High Road) took his second stage today.
David Herrero Llorente (Karpin Galicia) leads the points competition.
Iban Mayoz (Karpin Galicia) leading the sprints competition.
Alberto Contador (Astana) remains the leader.
Don't mind if I do!
Contador speaks to the press.
Igor Antón (Euskaltel - Euskadi).
One of the Karpin Galicia riders signs on.
Yaroslav Popovych (Silence - Lotto).
A main attraction at the start is the access to the riders.
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Caisse d'Epargne).
Dominik Roels and Sebastian Schwager from the Milram team.
Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval - Scott).
Alberto Contador (Astana) was happy to sign for fans.
Thomas Lövkvist (Team High Road).
A small group crosses the line.
Patrice Halgand (Crédit Agricole) safely crosses the finish line.

Stage 3 - April 9: Erandio - Viana, 195km

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Images by cyclinginside.com

Joan Horrach (Caisse d'Epargne) picked up a single mountains point on stage three.
A Cofidis rider zips up as the group prepares to descend.
Grisha Niermann (Rabobank) has a snack.
Morris Possoni (High Road) and Paul Martens (Rabobank) made the break of the day.
Astana controlled the peloton with ease to keep Contador in the overall lead.
Iban Mayoz (Karpin Galicia) leads the spring classification.
Herrero holds off Paolo Bettini in the push for the line.
Herrero in the lead coming up the hill to the finish.
Luis Leon Sanchez makes a big push to overtake Herrero.
Sanchez throws the bike… but it is too late and he can't get past Herrero.
Michael Albasini and David Rebellin come up in fifth and sixth.
Herrero receives the points leader's jersey.
David Herrero (Karpin Galicia) shows his prize for the stage victory.
Igon Anton (Euskaltel) is interviewed after the stage.
Kim Kirchen and Michael Barry (High Road) have a refreshing drink after the stage.
Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi) has a handy mountains classification lead.
Iban Mayoz (Karpin Galicia) wears the sprints jersey after three stages.
Alberto Contador (Astana) continues to lead the overall classification.
David Herrero Llorente (Karpin Galicia) holds the points jersey by a massive 21 points.

Stage 2 - April 8: Legazpi - Erandio, 153km

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Images by cyclinginside.com

Kim Kirchen (High Road) takes on Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) and beats the world champ on the line.
Astana at the head if the race and making sure there are no unpleasant surprises.
Astana was in control of the stage most of the time.
Contador stayed safely in the bunch.
Contador gives an interview after the stage.
Contador receives another yellow jersey and lots of liquids.
Contador's press conference is always attended by lots of Spanish media.
Cofidis and Quick Step were pulling for a sprint finish.
The break coming through the finish area, but unfortunately not for the final time yet.
Kim Kirchen proving that a Basque hat looks good on a Luxemburger, too.
The peloton grinds up the mountain in the Basque country.
David Herrero Llorente (Karpin Galicia) is leading the points classification.
Cadel Evans crosses the line safely.
Mountains leader Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi) shot off the front to collect points.
A small group arrives at the finish.
Alberto Contador (Astana) spays the champagne
Ruben Lobato Elvira (Saunier Duval - Scott).
Leader of the sprints classification, Iban Mayoz (Karpin Galicia).
Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi) on the podium to collect his mountains jersey.
Quick Step riders on one of the climbs of the day.

Images by Monika Prell

Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel - Euskadi) before the start.
Mountains leader Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi)
Igor Antón (Euskaltel - Euskadi) is interviewed by the press.

Stage 1 - April 7: Legazpi - Legazpi, 137km

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Images by Monika Prell/Cyclingnews.com

Some young fans wait to watch their heros ride.
Igor Antón (Euskaltel - Euskadi) has an achilles tendon problem.
Karpin Glacia was very active in the opening stage, claiming two podium spots.
Alberto Contador (Astana) was ready to put on a show for his home crowed.
Carlos Sastre (Team CSC) takes the easy way down.
Riders pose for a photo ahead of the opening stage.
Local fans cheer on the break away riders.
Saunier Duval-Scott riders pick up a light refreshment on the opening stage.

Images by cyclinginside.com

The peloton on one of the many hills in the first stage.
Astana is presented before stage one.
Paolo Bettini at the sign-in and eager to return to competition.
Contador was in the centre of attention when he rolled to the sign-in.
Cadel Evans is having a good year and is now building up for the Tour.
Egoi Martínez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) did a great race and secured the climber's jersey.
The escape of the day with Martínez and Mayoz
A Cofidis rider went down the road, but the move didn't stick.
Alberto Contador (Astana) really knows how to spray the bubbly, after all he just keeps getting more and more practice.
World champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) waits for the race to get underway.
Iban Mayoz (Karpin Galicia) in the combination jersey.
Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi) holds an impressive mountains classification lead after day one.
Alberto Contador (Astana) is congratulated on the podium.
Alberto Contador (Astana) puts on the leader's jersey at his home ProTour race.
Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Karpin Galicia) claimed second place.
Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (Astana) leads in the run to the finish line.
The Caisse d'Epargne crew is presented to the crowed.
Marco Pinotti (Team High Road) rides in the convoy.