# 2010 Tour of the Basque Country

The 2010 Tour of the Basque Country, was the 50th edition of the Tour of the Basque Country cycling stage race. It started on 5 April and ended on 10 April. Chris Horner won the race 7 seconds ahead of Alejandro Valverde after winning the sixth and final stage which was an individual time trial 8 seconds ahead of Valverde. Valverde's results were subsequently removed after a retroactive suspension was applied.

## Pre-Race Favourites

Two time defending champion, Alberto Contador announced that he would not be taking part in the 2010 Tour. Instead he put his focus at the Critérium International. 2009 Tour de France runner up Andy Schleck and his brother, Fränk Schleck as well as 2009 Vuelta a España champion Alejandro Valverde were heavy favourites. However other favourites also included Team RadioShack's Andreas Klöden, Italy's Damiano Cunego and Samuel Sánchez from Spain.

## Teams

There are 20 teams competing in the 2010 Tour of the Basque Country. They are:
* Ag2r–La Mondiale
* Andalucía–Cajasur
* Astana
* Caisse d'Epargne
* Euskaltel–Euskadi
* Footon–Servetto–Fuji
* Française des Jeux
* Garmin–Transitions
* Lampre–Farnese Vini
* Liquigas–Doimo
* Omega Pharma–Lotto
* Quick-Step
* Rabobank
* Team HTC–Columbia
* Team Katusha
* Team Milram
* Team RadioShack
* Team Saxo Bank
* Team Sky
* Xacobeo–Galicia

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 5 April 2010 – Zierbena to Zierbena, 152 km (94 mi)

Alejandro Valverde was awarded the opening stage after Óscar Freire, who crossed the line first, was disqualified for interfering with him in the sprint. After the subsequent removal of Valverde's results, Freire was reinstated as stage winner. Pre-race favourite, Samuel Sánchez missed a decisive split in the peloton and finished 1:38 behind the peloton, making a victory for him seem very unlikely.
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Óscar Freire (ESP) | Rabobank | 3h 57' 57" |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 0" |
| 3 | Christophe Le Mével (FRA) | Française des Jeux | + 0" |
| 4 | Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) | Garmin–Transitions | + 0" |
| 5 | Alexandr Kolobnev (RUS) | Team Katusha | + 0" |
| 6 | Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 0" |
| 7 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 0" |
| 8 | Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) | Team RadioShack | + 0" |
| 9 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Transitions | + 0" |
| 10 | Benat Intxausti (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 0" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | 3h 57' 57" |
| 2 | Óscar Freire (ESP) | Rabobank | + 0" |
| 3 | Christophe Le Mével (FRA) | Française des Jeux | + 0" |
| 4 | Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) | Garmin–Transitions | + 0" |
| 5 | Alexandr Kolobnev (RUS) | Team Katusha | + 0" |
| 6 | Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 0" |
| 7 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 0" |
| 8 | Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) | Team RadioShack | + 0" |
| 9 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Transitions | + 0" |
| 10 | Benat Intxausti (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 0" |

### Stage 2
#### 6 April 2010 – Zierbena to Viana, 217 km (135 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Óscar Freire (ESP) | Rabobank | 5h 53' 40" |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 0" |
| 3 | Francesco Gavazzi (ITA) | Lampre–Farnese Vini | + 1" |
| 4 | Michael Albasini (SUI) | Team HTC–Columbia | + 1" |
| 5 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 1" |
| 6 | Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) | Garmin–Transitions | + 1" |
| 7 | Kristijan Koren (SLO) | Liquigas–Doimo | + 1" |
| 8 | Alexandr Kolobnev (RUS) | Team Katusha | + 1" |
| 9 | Damiano Cunego (ITA) | Lampre–Farnese Vini | + 1" |
| 10 | Paul Martens (GER) | Rabobank | + 1" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | 9h 51' 38" |
| 2 | Óscar Freire (ESP) | Rabobank | + 0" |
| 3 | Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) | Garmin–Transitions | + 1" |
| 4 | Alexandr Kolobnev (RUS) | Team Katusha | + 1" |
| 5 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 1" |
| 6 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Transitions | + 1" |
| 7 | Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) | Team RadioShack | + 1" |
| 8 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | + 1" |
| 9 | Damiano Cunego (ITA) | Lampre–Farnese Vini | + 1" |
| 10 | Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 1" |

### Stage 3
#### 7 April 2010– Viana to Amurrio, 187 km (116 mi)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Francesco Gavazzi (ITA) | Lampre–Farnese Vini | 4h 49' 52" |
| 2 | Óscar Freire (ESP) | Rabobank | + 0" |
| 3 | Peter Velits (SVK) | Team HTC–Columbia | + 0" |
| 4 | Alexander Bocharov (RUS) | Team Katusha | + 0" |
| 5 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 0" |
| 6 | Davide Viganò (ITA) | Team Sky | + 0" |
| 7 | Christian Knees (GER) | Team Milram | + 0" |
| 8 | Davide Malacarne (ITA) | Quick-Step | + 0" |
| 9 | Paul Martens (GER) | Rabobank | + 0" |
| 10 | Kristijan Koren (SLO) | Liquigas–Doimo | + 0" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Óscar Freire (ESP) | Rabobank | 14h 41' 30" |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 2" |
| 3 | Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) | Garmin–Transitions | + 3" |
| 4 | Alexandr Kolobnev (RUS) | Team Katusha | + 3" |
| 5 | Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) | Team RadioShack | + 3" |
| 6 | Marco Pinotti (ITA) | Team HTC–Columbia | + 3" |
| 7 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | + 3" |
| 8 | Damiano Cunego (ITA) | Lampre–Farnese Vini | + 3" |
| 9 | Dries Devenyns (BEL) | Quick-Step | + 3" |
| 10 | Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 3" |

### Stage 4
#### 8 April 2010 – Murgia to Eibar, 160 km (99 mi)

After missing a decisive split that put him over 1:30 behind the race leader, it was the Olympic Champion Samuel Sánchez who won the hilliest stage of this year's tour.
Samuel Sánchez caught Chris Horner at the top of the Alto de Usartza climb and then dived down the short descent to the finish to win by two seconds. Alejandro Valverde and Robert Gesink also caught Chris Horner who barely managed to stay with them.
The victory put Alejandro Valverde only one second ahead of Chris Horner and Robert Gesink respectively. The overall favourites knew they had to wait for the Alto de Usartza, that ended just two kilometres from the finish.
Samuel Sánchez's victory was Euskaltel–Euskadi's first victory of the 2010 cycling year as well.
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | 4h 05' 16" |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 2" |
| 3 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | + 2" |
| 4 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 2" |
| 5 | Beñat Intxausti (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 33" |
| 6 | Jean-Christophe Péraud (FRA) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 33" |
| 7 | Damiano Cunego (ITA) | Lampre–Farnese Vini | + 40" |
| 8 | Andy Schleck (LUX) | Team Saxo Bank | + 40" |
| 9 | Sandy Casar (FRA) | Française des Jeux | + 49" |
| 10 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | + 49" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | 18h 46' 50" |
| 2 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 1" |
| 3 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | + 1" |
| 4 | Jean-Christophe Péraud (FRA) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 32" |
| 5 | Beñat Intxausti (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 32" |
| 6 | Damiano Cunego (ITA) | Lampre–Farnese Vini | + 39" |
| 7 | Andy Schleck (LUX) | Team Saxo Bank | + 39" |
| 8 | Marco Pinotti (ITA) | Team HTC–Columbia | + 48" |
| 9 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | + 48" |
| 10 | Sandy Casar (FRA) | Française des Jeux | + 48" |

### Stage 5
#### 9 April 2010 – Eibar to Orio, 170 km (110 mi)

Joaquim Rodríguez soloed across the finish line, taking 14 seconds off of race leader Alejandro Valverde and put him comfortably in 3rd place. 2008 Champion Samuel Sánchez came in 2nd place, just ahead of race leader Alejandro Valverde.
A large attack group including mountains classification leader Amets Txurruka spent much of the day ahead of the peloton. On the penultimate climb Txurruka attacked solo, but crashed on the descent towards the final climb. He was able to complete the stage, but broke his collarbone in the incident and had to drop out before the final time trial.
Robert Gesink who was in 3rd place after the previous stage, is now in 8th place after experiencing a crash on the final climb. His team (Rabobank) reported that he may have broken a bone in his hand.
Joaquim Rodríguez had attacked out of the chasing peloton with about 20 km to go, passing the remnants of an earlier escape group. He had come into the stage 48 seconds down on the general ranking, dangerous enough for Valverde, Horner and Sánchez to give chase.
Joaquim Rodríguez was happy with the result and the ITT is different than normal because it has a hilly finish. His dream is to take the GC.
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | 4h 07' 52" |
| 2 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 14" |
| 3 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 14" |
| 4 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 14" |
| 5 | Sandy Casar (FRA) | Française des Jeux | + 20" |
| 6 | Francesco Gavazzi (ITA) | Lampre–Farnese Vini | + 20" |
| 7 | Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) | Garmin–Transitions | + 20" |
| 8 | Dries Devenyns (BEL) | Quick-Step | + 20" |
| 9 | Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 20" |
| 10 | Jean-Christophe Péraud (FRA) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 20" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | 22h 54' 56" |
| 2 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 1" |
| 3 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | + 34" |
| 4 | Jean-Christophe Péraud (FRA) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 38" |
| 5 | Beñat Intxausti (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 38" |
| 6 | Andy Schleck (LUX) | Team Saxo Bank | + 45" |
| 7 | Marco Pinotti (ITA) | Team HTC–Columbia | + 54" |
| 8 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | + 54" |
| 9 | Sandy Casar (FRA) | Française des Jeux | + 54" |
| 10 | Dries Devenyns (BEL) | Quick-Step | + 1' 16" |

### Stage 6
#### 10 April 2010 – Orio to Orio, 22 km (14 mi) (Individual Time Trial)

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | 32' 33" |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 8" |
| 3 | Maxime Monfort (BEL) | Team HTC–Columbia | + 13" |
| 4 | Michael Rogers (AUS) | Team HTC–Columbia | + 18" |
| 5 | Beñat Intxausti (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 21" |
| 6 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 23" |
| 7 | Marco Pinotti (ITA) | Team HTC–Columbia | + 25" |
| 8 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | + 33" |
| 9 | Jean-Christophe Péraud (FRA) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 33" |
| 10 | Andreas Klöden (GER) | Team RadioShack | + 34"" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | 23h 27' 30" |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Caisse d'Epargne | + 7" |
| 3 | Beñat Intxausti (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 58" |
| 4 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | + 1' 06" |
| 5 | Jean-Christophe Péraud (FRA) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 1' 10" |
| 6 | Marco Pinotti (ITA) | Team HTC–Columbia | + 1' 18" |
| 7 | Sandy Casar (FRA) | Française des Jeux | + 1' 47" |
| 8 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 1' 58" |
| 9 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | + 1' 59" |
| 10 | Dries Devenyns (BEL) | Quick-Step | + 2' 27" |

## Classification Leadership

| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points Classification | Mountains Classification | Sprints Classification | Team Classification |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde Óscar Freire | Alejandro Valverde Óscar Freire | Alejandro Valverde Óscar Freire | Gonzalo Rabuñal | Christian Meier | Team RadioShack |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde Óscar Freire | Alejandro Valverde Óscar Freire | Alejandro Valverde Óscar Freire | Gonzalo Rabuñal | Christian Meier | Team RadioShack |
| 3 | Francesco Gavazzi | Óscar Freire | Óscar Freire | Gonzalo Rabuñal | Christian Meier | Team RadioShack |
| 4 | Samuel Sánchez | Alejandro Valverde Chris Horner | Alejandro Valverde Samuel Sánchez | Amets Txurruka | Christian Meier | Team RadioShack |
| 5 | Joaquim Rodríguez | Alejandro Valverde Chris Horner | Alejandro Valverde Samuel Sánchez | Amets Txurruka | Christian Meier | Team RadioShack |
| 6 | Chris Horner | Chris Horner | Alejandro Valverde Samuel Sánchez | Gonzalo Rabuñal | Christian Meier | Team HTC–Columbia |
| Final | Final | Chris Horner | Alejandro Valverde Samuel Sánchez | Gonzalo Rabuñal | Christian Meier | Team HTC–Columbia |

## Final results
### General classification

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | 23h 27' 30" |
| 2 | Beñat Intxausti (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 58" |
| 3 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | + 1' 06" |
| 4 | Jean-Christophe Péraud (FRA) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 1' 10" |
| 5 | Marco Pinotti (ITA) | Team HTC–Columbia | + 1' 18" |
| 6 | Sandy Casar (FRA) | Française des Jeux | + 1' 47" |
| 7 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 1' 58" |
| 8 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | + 1' 59" |
| 9 | Dries Devenyns (BEL) | Quick-Step | + 2' 27" |
| 10 | Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 2' 37" |

### Points Classification

| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | 79 |
| 3 | Óscar Freire (ESP) | Rabobank | 60 |
| 4 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | 53 |
| 5 | Francesco Gavazzi (ITA) | Lampre–Farnese Vini | 51 |
| 6 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | 46 |
| 7 | Beñat Intxausti (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | 34 |
| 8 | Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) | Garmin–Transitions | 33 |
| 9 | Sandy Casar (FRA) | Française des Jeux | 26 |
| 10 | Jean-Christophe Péraud (FRA) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | 24 |

### Mountains Classification

| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Gonzalo Rabuñal (ESP) | Xacobeo–Galicia | 23 |
| 2 | José Alberto Benítez (ESP) | Footon–Servetto–Fuji | 19 |
| 3 | Michael Albasini (SUI) | Team HTC–Columbia | 16 |
| 4 | Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) | Team Saxo Bank | 16 |
| 5 | Johannes Fröhlinger (GER) | Team Milram | 14 |
| 6 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | 13 |
| 7 | Michael Rogers (AUS) | Team HTC–Columbia | 12 |
| 8 | Ivan Santaromita (ITA) | Liquigas–Doimo | 11 |
| 9 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | 9 |
| 10 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | 8 |

### Sprints Classification

| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Christian Meier (CAN) | Garmin–Transitions | 14 |
| 2 | Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) | Team Saxo Bank | 9 |
| 3 | Egoi Martínez (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | 9 |
| 4 | Michael Albasini (SUI) | Team HTC–Columbia | 9 |
| 5 | Serguei Klimov (RUS) | Team Katusha | 8 |
| 6 | Iban Mayoz (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | 4 |
| 7 | Michael Rogers (AUS) | Team HTC–Columbia | 4 |
| 8 | Dmitriy Fofonov (KAZ) | Astana | 3 |
| 9 | Rémy Di Gregorio (FRA) | Française des Jeux | 3 |
| 10 | Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) | Garmin–Transitions | 2 |

### Team classification

| Pos. | Team | Time |
| 1 | Team HTC–Columbia | 70h 28′ 40″ |
| 2 | Team RadioShack | + 17″ |
| 3 | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 2′ 14″ |
| 4 | Caisse d'Epargne | + 6′ 09″ |
| 5 | Team Katusha | + 14′ 32″ |
| 6 | Française des Jeux | + 18′ 08″ |
| 7 | Rabobank | + 20′ 44″ |
| 8 | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 21′ 43″ |
| 9 | Quick-Step | + 23′ 29″ |
| 10 | Team Saxo Bank | + 24′ 17″ |