Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) is mainly using the Vuelta al Pais Vasco to prepare for the Ardennes classics but the Portuguese performed way below expectations in today's first stage of the race. Having lost more than four minutes, he now finds himself riding in support of Damiano Cunego who returned to form with a great showing in the hilly terrain.

Rui Costa's main goal may be the Ardennes classics but the world champion had certainly hoped for more in today's first stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. The Portuguese lost more than 4 minutes after struggling already on the penultimate climb of the day.

Costa has just returned after a training camp at altitude in Sierra Nevada and had a far from perfect preparation for the race as his flight was delayed. Hence, he missed important massage and rest yesterday and he even had to do the race on his spare bike as he preferred one had not arrived in time for the stage start.

Nontheless, the Portuguese pointed out on his website that he had expected more from himself in today's stage. He will now forget about his overall ambitions and instead put himself in the service of Damiano Cunego who returned to form after some disappointing seasons by taking an excellent 5th on the stage.

"The Tour of the Basque Country is an important step to see the benefits of the work I did at my traning camp and to refine the condition in view of the Ardennes classics," he said. "At Sierra Nevada there was a bit of snow and here we had warm temperatures. The difference was remarkable and I have to acclimatize day by day.

"Today's stage was short but was hard because of the constant climbing. There was little space to recover and it will have benfited the further growth of my condition.

"I was pleased to see Cunego be so good. Damiano is a great rider and he will be a valuable asset in the Ardennes."