First Endurance sponsored rider Alberto Contador (Astana Cycling Team) won the first stage in the Tour of the Basque Country. In a short (137 K) but hard stage over seven climbs, Contador attacked on the final climb of Deskarga, joined the escaped rider Mozquera, took risks in the descent and beat Mosquera to the line in a sprint finish. Contador will start tomorrow in the yellow leader’s jersey. This is Alberto Contador’s fourth victory of the season.

Astana Cycling Team showed great ambition by working hard to neutralize a breakaway of three riders. “My team worked again so hard”, stated last year’s Tour de France winner. “My overall victory in the Tour of Castilla y Leon gave the team extra motivation and confidence. We really made an intelligent race. Rain or sunshine, it doesn’t matter for me. When you have the right condition, you support every type of weather. The next days, all other teams will look at us, but we are used to it. I did not gain so many seconds on the other riders, but we showed again that our team is one of the strongest teams in the world.”

Results-

1. Contador; 2. Mozquera 0.03; 3.Herrero 0.08; 4.Cunego; 5.Ricco; 6. Rebellin