The Basques already proclaimed at the start of this race, perhaps with a tinge of national pride that this “is the hardest week-long race in the world.”  This was perhaps not entirely hyperbole, as much of the peloton can attest.  Even Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), who won today’s third stage, was stretched to the limit with the eight major climbs. 

A mass crash also caused many downfalls within the peloton, and IAM Cycling was by no means spared.  Jonathan Fumeaux and Sébastien Reichenbach were forced to dismount 35 kilometers from the finish due to a stampede of riders on a very steep climb.  But at the end of it all, the overall lead finally fell to Sergio Henao (Team Sky), who finished second on the stage.
 
When making his initial assessment of this complicated day through the Basque countryside, Jonathan Fumeaux willingly gave his impressions: “It was a difficult stage, and there was a lot of wind.  We were all trapped on the first climb of the Alto de la Antigua.  It was a really steep wall and we had to get off our bikes because all the riders in front of us had already stopped.  That meant that in the end, we could only finish in the second pack. It’s a shame, but we just weren’t in a position to do anything impressive.”
 
The Basque region spares no one, but that’s what guarantees its reputation. Mario Chiesa, directeur sportif for the Swiss professional team, who himself has often race the Tour of the Basque Country, was willing to explain what makes this race so special: “For me, it is a complicated race because the roads are very narrow, and always going up or down.  There are a lot of turns, and if you are not riding in front, it can get very tricky.  For this race, you not only have to have very good legs, but ride always using your head.”