Route Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco 2009, Stage 2: Ataun - Villatuerta  

The Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco is an annual cycling stage race held in the Basque Country in April.

This is Stage 2 of the 2009 race from April 7, 2009. For more race details see the Vuelta al Pais Vasco Live Dashboard

About the race:

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. (Text: Wikipedia)