Trek Factory Racing finished off the final day in the Tour of the Basque Country with Bob Jungels placing 13th in the hilly 25.9-kilometer time trial.  With two significant climbs in the final day parcours, the time trial was decisive in determining the overall podium.

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) solidified his overall win with a second place in the time trial, seven seconds slower that World Time Trial Champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) who took the victory, but second and third GC would go to Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharm-QuickStep) and Jean-Christophe Peraud (Ag2R La Mondiale) with their strong rides against the clock.

“Until the first climb I did not feel so well, but on the first false-flat down I was able to spin the legs and then in the first climb I felt good,” said Jungels, explaining his time trial to the Trek webpage. “I went pretty strong on the climbs, I think; I was a lot out of the saddle and in between the climbs I did the down hills fast as I could, and on the flat I also had a good rhythm.  The second climb was also quite well, and the last downhill I was spinning out.  All in all, I am happy regarding my day yesterday and my performance today, and I can say my condition is back.”

Robert Kiserlovski had a solid ride, finishing in 32nd place (+2’26”) and successfully held onto his 16th place in an overall classification that completely shuffled for most.

Fränk Schleck was a non-starter for the team, with the confirmation yesterday of acute sinusitis and conjunctivitis.  The team affirmed he would be one hundred percent ready to take the start in the Ardennes Classics. 

Trek Factory Racing’s Haimar Zubeldia, from Basque, explained how the week fared for him and the team, and how it felt to race on his training grounds:

“I did not come to this race with good feeling because I was sick two times. I recovered well, and now I will take a little rest and I will be ready for the [Ardennes] Classics. I know most of the roads, and seeing all the people pushing us, it’s really nice. The people love cycling, and they ride a lot in this region. They understand cycling and the whole peloton feels this and I think for the whole peloton they like to ride in the Basque Country. 

“We are lucky all week we had good weather, and that helps, too,” smiled Haimar.  “I think it was a good week for the team, and we have come out of this stronger for the Classics.”

In his proclaimed final season of racing, Jens Voigt recounted his fond memories of the Tour of the Basque Country, and just what makes this race so special:

“This is the 12th time if I remember correctly,” said Voigt. “I had my first pro win here in the Basque Country and I remember it because it was an important day in my life. We only had three riders left in the race, it was typical Basque country  - rainy and cold – and I was so far back in the GC and I was getting my head kicked in every day. Then on the last day it was a split day, a short stage in the morning and a time trial in the afternoon.  I knew that the GC riders would want an easy and no stress stage in the morning – I mean that’s like the book of cycling page one - and it was pouring rain and I started with no rain jacket, ready to attack from the gun.  I went full gas when we hit the kilometer zero sign and after two kilometers I looked back and there were only two guys left on my wheel. We worked together and gained something like six minutes; I managed to drop the other two guys, and won solo. Even though it was terrible weather there were so many Basque fans cheering for me, even though they didn’t know me since I was a neo pro, they still gave me full support."

“I think the fans here appreciate my style of racing: I have won four stages here and I always give it everything. I won because I deserved them, no smart tricks, not a lucky win, but because I went all-out and take it in style. They like the way I race: I just go full-gas and try and make it. "

“I have many painful memories here, but it is a really beautiful race, and the people are always down to earth, friendly, warm in their heart, and it is always nice to come here. I am glad that I had this opportunity to race one last time in the Basque Country.”