13 Jan 2011

Tour of Spain to return to Basque Country

2:09 pm on 13 January 2011

Cycling's Tour of Spain will visit the Basque Country for the first time since 1978.

When the race last visited the region, two stages were cancelled as separatists blocked the route with barricades, spread tacks on roads and threw sand into riders' eyes.

But leading rider Igor Anton, who's in a Basque team, says the route passes his home and he's sure Basque fans will respond positively.

Britain's David Millar, a former Basque Country resident and five-times stage winner of the Tour of Spain, says Basque fans are the best in cycling and deserve a big race.