Mikel Landa surprised both himself and most of the cycling world by taking an impressive victory on the brutally steep Alto de Garrastatxu in stage 2 of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. Having attacked with Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) on the lower slopes, he benefited from the hesitation from the favourites to hold off his chasers before beating his companion in the two-rider sprint. Sergio Henao (Sky) used his devastating kick to drop his biggest rivals and make it two Sky riders on the podium.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Mikel Landa: Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that I could win here

Mikel Landa stormed into the race lead at the Tour of the Basque Country with a stunning display of climbing on his home stage.

 

The Spaniard attacked with Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) on the day's final climb and then outsprinted the Dutchman to seal the win, with Sergio Henao bursting from what remained of the peloton to take third and crown a fantastic day.

 

The team had ridden hard in the final 10 kilometres, with Vasil Kiryienka, Lars Petter Nordhaug and Philip Deignan putting in big turns on the front of the bunch, before leaving Landa and Henao in perfect positions at the bottom of the final narrow climb.

 

Landa covered early attacks on the steep 3km ascent before riding away with Kelderman and, although there was a response from the peloton late on,the pair stayed away.

 

Kelderman was poised on the wheel in the final metres but didn't have an answer, with Landa even having time to sit up and adjust his jersey before crossing the line for his first win in Team Sky colours. Henao came home five seconds back in third, with those positions replicated in the overall standings.

 

Back at the team hotel a clearly delighted Landa vowed to defend the jersey he admitted it was a surprise to have won.

 

He said: "It's really nice. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could win today - I'm really happy.

 

"The climb was very close to my house, just 15km away, and I know it very well. That really helped me get the win.

 

"Me and Sergio are first and third after the first mountain stage which is very important and great motivation for us. We are going to fight for the overall victory.

 

“On an occasion like this when it came to winning, what I wanted in my head was as important as my legs. There were other things that helped, too, the cold and rain in the first part of the stage really made a difference and was good for me, as did knowing the finish so well.

 

“But I really can’t believe that I’ve managed to win, it’s still sinking in.”

 

“Sergio is the leader for Sky here, and I could crack tomorrow. He’s got a lot more race days this season. So I’ll have to take it on the day by day.”

 

Wilco Kelderman changes focus after surprise second place in Pais Vasco

Wilco Kelderman finished second in the second stage of the Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco today. Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s climber attacked on the final climb and had Mikel Landa (Team Sky) for company. The two held their lead and Landa won the sprint. Behind, Robert Gesink finished ninth.

 

In the final kilometres before the last climb, five riders from Team LottoNL-Jumbo were in front of the peloton. Besides Kelderman and Gesink, Paul Martens Enrico Battaglin and Bert-Jan Lindeman were there to support their front men.

 

“It was our target to do some kind of a lead-out to the final turn before the climb,” Sports Director Addy Engels said after the stage. “It went slightly downhill, so the pace was high. The men did their job perfectly. Everyone wants to be in front at that point, so that makes it even better that they succeeded.”

 

Enrico Battaglin set the pace in the first part of the final climb and the first group exploded immediately afterwards. That was when Wilco Kelderman saw his chance to escape.

 

“It was a very tough stage,” Kelderman said. “It was raining and we were riding on a plateau, so it was extra cold. Victor Campenaerts crashed in the beginning of the stage and I fell over him. That was annoying, but it didn’t change my goal. The final climb was steep, so I wanted to set my own pace, and I did. When Landa took the lead, I had to push myself immediately. He was a little stronger than me, unfortunately, but we did a good job as a team.”

 

Engels said after the first stage that Kelderman wasn’t aiming for the general classification, but he changed his mind today.

 

“We know now that two of our riders are with the best, so we have to build our tactics with that in mind,” Engels added. “If you’re able to deliver this today, that means that you will be able to compete for a good result in the general classification, as well. It would be weird to say that Wilco isn’t looking for that. He has to keep on riding the way he does because that aggressive mindset works the best for him at the moment.”

 

The third stage normally isn’t one for the overall riders.

 

“If Paul and Enrico are as strong as today during tomorrow’s stage, they will get a chance,” Engels said. “We’ll keep on aiming for a stage result as well this week.”

 

Samuel Sanchez builds confidence in hardest Pais Vasco he has ever done

Samuel Sánchez put his legs to the test with a late attack on the brutal final category 2 climb on Stage 2 of Vuelta al Pais Vasco, crossing the line in fourth place and moving into fourth on the General Classification behind race-leader Mikel Landa (Team Sky).

 

Samuel Sánchez said:

 

“The final part of the race was really good for me. I felt really strong in the final 500 meters to the finish and it was a perfect kind of finish for me. Today was a really hard day with the cold, rain and the climbs. The pace of the race is really high too and the level of riders here is similar to Volta Ciclista a Catalunya with lots of GC contenders. It really is a top level.

 

“I’m taking it day by day. Vuelta al Pais Vasco is really special for me and the weather really comes into play. This race with bad weather makes it so difficult. I think this is the hardest edition of the race in the last 20 years. Today the feeling was good, but we’ll see tomorrow.”

 

Yvon Ledanois, Sports Director, added:

 

“It was a hard, hard, hard day for the riders. 170 kilometers and it was only three degrees and raining for most of it. You can’t imagine a stage like this for the riders. I think it would have been one of the hardest stages all year for most of these riders.

 

“The objective for today was to protect Samuel until the last climb and then see what he could do. Samuel is looking really strong and he had big legs today. He did that big attack with about a kilometer to go and I was telling him to go, go, go and not look behind. Fourth place today is a good result for us. Now that Samuel is in fourth on GC, of course we will look to protect his position but I think a stage like tomorrow is also good for a breakaway. We will see and take things stage by stage.”

 

Alberto Contador: I didn’t want to make the mistake I made in Catalonia

Alberto Contador crossed the finish line in Baranbio-Garrastatxu today in fifth position. On a stage where the outcome was going to come down to the final climb of the day, a last minute attack from the Tinkoff team leader ensured he came across the line just 11 seconds after the stage winner, and put some time into his GC rivals. The Spanish rider goes into stage 3 fifth in the GC and with every chance to take more time in the coming stages.

 

The conditions could be best-described as damp on the race’s second stage – while the sun came out on various points of the route, the roads were wet from rainfall and there was cloud cover for most of the stage. Covering a distance of 174.3km, the stage covered five categorised climbs – the last being a second category climb to the finish in Baranbio-Garrastatxu.

 

A two-man breakaway led for much of the stage, creating gaps of more than three minutes at times but as the closing kilometres loomed on the horizon, the peloton started chasing the breakaway, and pulling it in fast. The chase began at 25km out, and within just a few kilometres the gap was down to 10 seconds, before finally being caught 10km from the end, building up to the uphill finish.

 

With the breakaway reeled in, the teams began jostling for position at the front. Tinkoff and their leader, Alberto Contador, allowed the other teams to take control at the front, latching on to these to save their energy for the final climb, before the pace rose higher still in the final 6km. As the Garrastatxu came into view, the Tinkoff leader joined the front, and the attacks began, but with the peloton falling apart on the narrow roads, it was difficult to work together to pull the break back.

 

Sport Director, Steven De Jongh, was supportive of the team’s efforts to keep Contador in the front, but was disappointed by the peloton’s reluctance to work.

 

"The finish was really tough - really steep and every man for himself. The boys put all their efforts into getting Alberto Contador into position, and he was at the front as the road kicked up. Then there was the early attack of Kelderman and Landa, and not much interest to pull from behind. Alberto took up the chase early on but didn't want to do all the pulling so they ended up getting a gap.”

 

Contador provided more detail from the finish.

 

"It was a tough stage, mainly because of the weather as it rained in the first part and it was quite cold. We knew we had to be well-positioned ahead of the last climb and that's what we did. During the climb nobody was taking any responsibility. Although I was feeling in good form, I was reluctant to take all the responsibility by myself and pull to reach the two escapees. That's why I decided to wait. I think I erred in Catalunya by taking too much things in charge, so I was a bit more cautious here.”

 

As the break got away, quickly building up a 16 second gap, Contador kept his nerve. He crossed the line 11 seconds after the stage winner, having attacked and left his GC rivals behind, and took seconds that may prove pivotal in later stages of the race.

 

“At the end, we lost a few seconds against some riders,” continued Alberto. “But what I take from the day is that the legs are there and the race is still open. There are still three road stages ahead and a final time-trial. Although we have to take this race day by day, given the weather conditions as well, I think that the time-trial will decide the Vuelta al Pais Vasco."

 

"What Landa and Kelderman showed was very impressive,” said Steven De Jongh, of the breakaway riders. “But the pressure is with them now to control the race and to defend the jersey. I think we're still in a good position for the overall with some tough days ahead and then the difficult final time trial, and there are lots of riders in the same time at the top.”

 

In addition to the terrain, the weather was one of the biggest challenges for the team in today’s stage, as De Jongh explained.

 

"Unfortunately we lost Sergio Paulinho today - he was just empty. He came into the line-up at last minute, and did a strong ride yesterday but didn't have anything in the tank today. We had some horrible weather early in the stage, cold and wet, and so he stepped off the bike. The other guys all did a strong job. Jesper Hansen was already better than yesterday and we hope he can improve further tomorrow as he also comes back from sickness.”

 

Tomorrow’s stage is the longest of the race. At 193.5km, stage 3 crosses five categorised climbs, with three of these climbs coming in the last 30km. A flat final 10km in Lesaka creates the possibility of a bunch finish, but there’s every chance of an attack on the final climb. De Jongh gave some insight into preparation for stage 3.

 

"Tomorrow has a bit of an easier start compared to the other days. Then in the final we have some climbs and tricky descents so we have to stay attentive and be aware of the situation on the road."

 

Thibaut Pinot after solid start in Pais Vasco: I had heavy legs

"I was in the top ten at the bottom of the final climb. The climb was decided by the position. You had to be in the top 15. I returned to a favorite group, I backed off because I was a little background, I made ​​a lot of efforts to be placed. There was a lot of observation among the favorites. 

 

“I was in the first ten at the foot of the climb and with such a tricky start that was very important,” Pinot told L’Equipe and Cyclingnews. “After that I followed the favourites' wheels because I needed to catch my breath a little after making sure I was in the right place and then there was a really difficult first ramp.

 

“There was a lot of the favourites watching each other, it had been a very difficult start to the stage. I could not follow Landa and Kelderman, everyone was tired. I had heavy legs from the cold. I finished as I could. The team did ​​a big, big job for me all day.

 

“It was a case of everybody finishing as they could. There weren’t too many climbs earlier on so it was really a case of who had the most ‘punch’ for that last ascent.”

 

 "It was a rough day,” his teammate Jeremy Roy told L’Equipe. “I changed three times and it only dried upy at the end.Thibaut (Pinot) had a mechanical problem early in the stage. Due to a split on the twisty and wet roads, the team had to chase. Otherwise, we fought all day against cold, rain. We had to suffer."

 

Lampre-Merida positively surprised: Normally this is not a climb for Costa

LAMPRE-MERIDA demonstrated a good fighting spirit in the 2nd stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco and displayed a very competitive Rui Costa.

The riders directed by the duo Marzano-Maini fulfilled the requests of their sports director, trying to escape from the bunch and achieving this goal after 30km in when Petilli and Meintjes joined a breakaway with Denifl and Madrazo pedaling.

After some kilometers, however, Petilli and Meintjes (who later withdrew from the stage) got dropped from the front group and their former breakaway mates were caught by the peloton in the approach to the final climb.

Rui Costa who usually has to defend on such severe gradients, approached the hill in a perfect position and he could also keep up with the best. He was 7th at 15".

Sports director Marco Marzano commented the performance of the blue-fuchsia-green team:"Today our first goal was again to be present in the breakaways and we achieved this goal thanks to Petilli and Meintjes.
 

”However, the bunch controlled the attackers strictly so after 15 km we decided that it was better that Petilli joined the peloton in order to support Rui Costa, considering that in today’s stage it was very important to approach the climbs in a good position in the group.
 

”We still had Meintjes in the front of the race, unfortunately Louis suffered from hypothermia and he quit the race. 
 

”Good fedback from Rui Costa: usually, these are not the kind of climbs he prefers, however he succeeded in delivering an excellent performance".

 

Nairo Quintana: It was a difficult climb for me

Still progressing following the virus that affected him after the Volta a Catalunya, yet always willing to offer his best level, Nairo Quintana took a top-ten finish in the first hilltop finish of the Vuelta al País Vasco. The 'wall' of Garrastatxu (2.7km at nearly 12% average gradient) witnessed the victory of local hero Mikel Landa (SKY) after changing weather hit the peloton on day two and made the GC favourites' reactions unpredictable.

 

Well supported by Sutherland, Herrada, Anacona and Visconti until the final 10km, both Quintana and Dani Moreno started off the climb into the 50-rider front group. While the Spaniard struggled to get in good position before the demanding slopes - he finishes in 29th place at 58 seconds; Visconti was 26th, at 43" -, the Colombian always kept the front, and even responded to an acceleration by Rui Costa (LAM), who went in pursuit of Landa and Dutchman Wilco Kelderman (TLJ). Quintana would end up losing some ground as the ramps became gentler in the closing 300 meters.

 

Quintana, 8th over the line at 15" from the day's winner  -"It was a difficult climb for me, but we didn't lose a lot of time", the 'Cóndor of Boyacá' said right after crossing the line - will try to keep improving his condition over the week as he looks forward to the decisive, final two stages in Arrate. Before that, two stages still await - the longest and most predictable one being Wednesday's st. 3, over 193km towards Lesaka that include three Category-2 ascents -Aritxulegi, Agiña and La Piedad- in its finale.

 

Katusha: We really wanted to win this stage with Rodriguez

The 56th Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco wasted no time in providing an uphill finish in Tuesday’s stage two. With areas ranging from 17-20%, the super steep sections provided plenty of action with Team KATUSHA’s Joaquim Rodriguez and Simon Špilak able to go with most of the moves. In the end Rodriguez took eleventh place while teammate Špilak was a few seconds behind for 14th.

 

”This was a very hard stage. Not just the parcours but also the weather was bad except for the last 30-40 kilometers. We had rain and cold all day and the riders suffered a lot. We knew this final was a good one for Joaquim and we assumed responsibility with Max Belkov and Jhonatan Restrepo at the end. They did a very good job closing the gap. Then Angel Vicioso did the work to bring our leaders Simon and ‘Purito’ to a good position in the group. In the end the win came from the attack of two riders and we had hoped to see our guys in the front for the final, but they gave their maximum. They stayed close on the classification and we see only small gaps there, so we think they are still in good positions. We had hoped to see Joaquim win this stage – he had a difficult start of his season with some sickness, so we wanted to work today to give him confidence,” said team director José Azevedo.

 

Rodriguez was eleventh at 15-seconds while Špilak is in fourteenth place at twenty-seconds.

 

Louis Vervaeke proud to do well as Lotto Soudal leader in Pais Vasco

Louis Vervaeke managed to stay in the GC group and finished nicely at the twelfth place. Because of this good performance Vervaeke is also twelfth on GC at fifteen seconds from the leader.

 

Vervaeke said: “This was the first time that I really had the chance in the team to go for the general classification. I was pretty nervous at having this opportunity, because it meant that I had riders of the calibre of Tony Gallopin and Maxime Monfort pulling for me during the race. To have riders like these, who have produced so many good results of their own throughout their careers, made me a bit nervous, but at the same time, I really wanted to prove something to the team, which has given me this opportunity. I came twelfth, so I think that I did well today. Looking forward, I believe that a top ten position is possible this week. And so I’m very happy that I didn’t let down the team and the belief they have put in me. Overall I’m very happy with my race so far.”

 

Paolo Tiralongo proud to work for Aru in Pais Vasco

“Thanks to yesterday's victory of my team mate Luis Leon Sanchez, we had the GC leadership. Moreover, there was an uphill final and we had to do our best to help our captain, Fabio Aru,” explained Tiralongo. “So, in reason of my expertise, I took the front position of the bunch and I set the speed, coordinating my team mates too, for about three-quarters of the race.”

 

Paolo Tiralongo is in seventeenth season as a pro rider and his seventh year at Team Astana. Despite is ‘mature’ age, 38 years old, he is still one of the most respected rider in the group. Tiralongo has also taken some important victories in stages of the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana.

 

Nonetheless, he declared himself honored to work all day long at the front of the bunch to help his captain: “It is correct, I’m honored to work for a young and talented captain as Fabio Aru because I see that I can be very helpful with my experience and also that I’m still able to do good performances,” continued Tiralongo . “Today we didn’t win but I’m not worried at all, step by step we will grow…”

 

Alexis Vuillermoz: I am still not at my best

"I had the bad legs, I was cold all day, so I did not have great feelings but I wanted to race,” Alexis Vuillermoz told L’Equipe. “This is the kind of climbs, short and with steep gradients, that suit me. I attacked at the beginning of the steep part (19%). I was too far at the back. It's my fault. I chased. I am still suffering from a shoulder when I crashed yesterday. But the real explanation is that I'm still not at my best. In the end, I made ​​an error of judgment. When I was distanced 200 meters from the finish, I thought there were still 500 meters, and I have not made ​​the effort. When I saw the sign '125 meters' ', I said ‘shit’.”

 

Bauke Mollema lacks explosiveness after coming back from illness

Vuelta al Pais Vasco began with a hard and hilly first stage and continued right where it left off Tuesday with another up and down punishing parcours that ended with a ridiculously steep climb to the line.  

 

It was an ending for pure punchers or those on a great day – there was no hiding up the extreme incline – and Bauke Mollema and Fabio Felline finished together in 19th and 20th places respectively. Mollema successfully limited any big time losses, and Felline again showed he is close to top form after his lengthy illness.

 

"Before I came here I was a bit afraid of these first two days after being sick last week, and in the end, I only lost 10 seconds on most of the GC guys," said Mollema. "I think it can only get better from this point on.

 

"On Sunday I did a recon of this climb with Haimar (Zubeldia), so I knew it was a really hard climb. However, in training it always feels easier than in the race. Although it's good to know the climb, you really just go full gas up it, you don't think. It was more important to see the kilometers going into the climb, so you know when and where you have to be in front, and that helped."

 

Trek-Segafredo guarded team leader Bauke Mollema for the 174-kilometer race, and when the key moment arrived when the road began to tilt upward and the battle for positioning escalated ahead of the right-hand turn into the narrow uphill, teamwork was again instrumental in shielding Mollema to the front.

 

"Laurent (Didier) and then Fabio helped me into the turn to the climb, so we were in good position," Mollema continued. "Those are the moments that everyone wants to be in front and we were well placed so we could save some energy in the first meters of the climb."

 

Two riders surged ahead at the halfway point and successfully held their lead to the end. There was no dramatic sprint to the line after the painful gradients: Mikel Landa (Sky) simply outlasted Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) and pulled ahead in the final 150 meters to take the win and overall lead.

 

Behind the contenders gritted teeth to limit losses to rivals, knowing this would not win the overall but it could hinder one's final placement.  Mollema finished within 11 seconds of the overall favorites and sits in 21st place overall (+26") with plenty of climbing still to come. 

 

Mollema said: "After, when the attacks came, I just did my own pace. I felt that I missed a bit the explosiveness, but kept coming back a few times, I kept fighting. In the last few hundred meters, I lost some seconds on most of the favorites, and that is always a pity.

"The next two days should be a little easier – although there are never easy days here – and then the final two days will be decisive for the GC."

 

Warren Barguil optimistic about progress in Pais Vasco

It was a good performance from Warren Barguil who held on until the higher slopes and he managed to finish in 22nd place. He is now 18th in the general classification.

 

Coach Aike Visbeek said after the race: “The goal was to put Warren in a good position at the foot of the final climb and to protect him all day. This worked out very well and I am very satisfied with the teamwork of the team throughout the stage.”

 

Warren Barguil said: “I was not in the best of shapes today but the guys did a great job in supporting me all today. On the uphill finish, I shifted a too heavy gear in the final 500 meters and that’s the reason why I lost a bit of time. But I am optimistic about my progress and I look forward to the upcoming races.”

 

Dimension Data: We must be part of the action tomorrow

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka kept its cards close to its chest today as the rain came down. Everyone knew the showdown for the day would happen on the final climb and so it was about delivering Serge Pauwels and Igor Anton to the final climb for the African Team.

 

With 10km to go the break was caught and it was a flat out race for the foot of the climb. Johann van Zyl did a great job to support Anton in the closing kilometers while Pauwels craftily maintained a good position too. Pawels came to the front of the chase from 2km to go but the severity of the climb meant that a handful of seconds was enough for the leading two.

 

Pauwels would be the highest placed finisher of the day. The Belgian came home in 23rd position and 31 seconds down on the stage winner Landa, who also took over the overall race lead.

 

Pauwels said: “The finish was up a very steep goat path. Position at the bottom was crucial and the guys helped me out there and then I gave it my best shot. I am not explosive enough to do a super result on a steep climb like this but I was happy to be up there in the select group of riders for a long time. 

 

Sports director Alex Sans Vega added: “It was a hard stage, raining from the beginning and a lot of attacks from the start. We tried to be there with Mekseb Debesay and Daniel Teklehaimanot. After 30km, 4 guys got away, one was Louis Meintjes and he was too high on the GC so Astana chased quite hard. Eventually he dropped back and then the gap went out. Daniel, Johann and Mekseb worked to deliver the guys to the last climb. We thought we could make an attack but it was a very steep climb and the pace was really fast so it was not possible to make a move. Serge didn't lose much time and if you consider the quality of the field it wasn't a bad result but we must be part of the action tomorrow.”

 

Yates brothers drop out of GC contention in Pais Vasco

Simon Yates finished in 28th place on stage two of the Vuleta Ciclista al Pais Vascotoday after a steep summit finish saw the peloton break apart and the battle for the overall classification begin.

 

Brother Adam Yates crossed the line a few seconds behind Simon in 30th place in place after the two ORICA-GreenEDGE riders competed with the leaders on the final climb of the day. The stage was won by Mikel Landa (Team-Sky), who broke away with Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) in the last two kilometres then won the sprint to the line.

 

Due to the topography of the route, the hilly, second stage had been singled out by many teams as an important day for those with general classification ambitions.

 

Sport Director Neil Stephens acknowledged that the team now have a difficult task ahead.

 

“It’s a shame how the stage turned out today,” said Stephens. “We said that we wanted to go out and take it on the front foot and that’s what we tried to do but at the end of the day we were slightly off the pace in the last kilometre.

 

“The whole team has a fantastic work ethic and we showed that throughout the stage, our positioning was excellent all day long and our attitude is still very positive.”

 

“We will keep pushing for stage wins through the rest of the week,” continued Stephens. “But it will be difficult to get to back into contention for the overall.

 

“If we keep racing with the attitude that we displayed today we will certainly get results in the future. It’s pleasing to see a team still upbeat after such a difficult day on the bike.”

 

IAM continue aggressive approach to the Vuelta al Pais Vasco

“It was a very difficult stage,” commented Stefan Denifl. "I was confident at the start, and I thought that now or never was the time to go on the offensive.  I am glad I could be a part of this breakaway.  When I found myself alone in the lead with Angel Madrazo, I did everything I could to take the points for the mountain classification.  But honestly, Madrazo was a little more powerful than me.  He was just stronger, plain and simple.  But in any case, I preferred to be at the front of the race rather than suffering under the capricious weather in the middle of the peloton.  I hope I can make a repeat appearance in breakaways like this in the coming days.”

 

 “We have no designated leader for the general classification at this race,” the Italian directeur sportif Mario Chiesa explained.  “The best way to hope for a victory for us rests in getting into the good breakaways.  Stefan Denifl perfectly tried to follow this strategy on Tuesday.  I remain convinced that by the end of the week, efforts like these will be rewarded.  The time gaps in the general classification have become a little more pronounced, so the pack could definitely decide to give more space to a breakaway in the next stages, and that could prove to be profitable for us.”