Sports

The Director of Sports for the Basque Government, Patxi Mutiloa, confirmed that the autonomous parliament had reached an agreement with Unipublic to bring the Spanish Vuelta back to the Basque Country, following an absence of 34 years, with "two very tough stages".

Mutiloa explained that various details of the agreement were still to be finalised with Unipublic, the company responsible for organising the Vuelta. The Director of Sports indicated that the Government and Unipublic were in the process of tying up lose ends and that the final details would be confirmed "prior to December, when the route is to be presented".

Mutiloa

Mutiloa confirmed that the aim was that two stages would pass through the Basque Country, both intended to be "tough and attractive". Plans are that Friday''s stage will end in Bilbao which "reflects the history of the race". (It was in Bilbao where the 1957 Vuelta set off). The second stage will conclude in the Basque Capital, Vitoria.

Benefits

Aside from the sporting aspect, Mutiloa stressed the important financial opportunity that the return of the race would represent for the Basque Country: 18 teams, each with cyclists, technicians and facilities, as well as around 2,500-3,000 people coming from outside the Basque Country to watch the race.