The 2016 Vuelta al Pais Vasco-Euskal Herriko Itzulia will start on the 4th of April in Etxebarria and finish with two decision stages on the 9th and 10th of April: the classic queen stage to the Arrate Sanctuary in Eibar and a time trial on the last day.

The organizers of  the Basque race, now in its 56th edition, have unveiled the start and finishing citiesof the six stages:

Monday, April 4. Stage 1: Etxebarria - Markina-Xemein  
Tuesday, April 5. Stage 2: Markina-Xemein - Araba (to be determined) 
Wednesday, April 6. Stage 3: Araba (to be defined) - Lesaka 
Thursday, April 7. Stage 4: Lesaka - Orio 
Friday, April 8. Stage 5: Orio - Arrate 
Saturday, April 9. stage 6: Eibar - Eibar, 18 km ITT

The Lea Artibai will host the first stage that will finish in Markina-Xemein which already welcomed the finish of the race in 2014. The finish of the second stage and the start of the third stage will be in Araba even though the exact locations are still to be defined. At the end of stage 3, the peloton will reach the Navarran town of Lesaka after having climbed Aritxulegi-Agiña and Igantzi along the way.

The city of Orio will not miss the next edition which means that the riders will pass the brutally steep Aia climb from various directions. Last year Mikel Landa took a memorable win on the brutal slopes. The town will also host the start of the penultimate stage which includes the traditional finish at the top of the Alto de Arrate in Eibar. The winner will be decided in the traditional final time trial which will be held in Eibar over 18km and is reported a relatively hilly affair.

Joaquim Rodriguez won this year's edition ahead of Sergio Luis Henao and Ion Izaguirre; Alberto Contador has three wins, 2008, 2009 and 2014; Quintana won in 2013; Samuel Sanchez in 2012, Kloden in 2011, and Horner in 2010.