2011 Euskaltel–Euskadi season

align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:1em; width:300px; font-size:90%; border:1px solid #999; border-right-width:2px; border-bottom-width:2px; background-color:white;"

! colspan="2" style="background-color:#000080;" |

{| style="background:#FF9933;text-align:center;width:100%;"

| style="background:#FF9933;" align="center" width="100%" | 2011 Euskaltel–Euskadi season

| padding=15px |

| Manager

| bgcolor=#EEEEEE| Igor González de Galdeano

| One-day victories

| bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 1

| Stage race overall victories

| bgcolor=#EEEEEE| –

| Stage race stage victories

| bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 9

| colspan="2" bgcolor="white" align="center" | Previous season • Next season

The 2011 season for {{UCI team code|EUS|2011}} began in January at the Tour Down Under and ended in October at the Giro di Lombardia. It was the team's eighteenth season as a professional cycling team, and its eleventh with UCI ProTeam – Trade Team 1 between 2001 and 2004 – status. As a UCI ProTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event on the UCI World Tour calendar. For the second year in a row, the traditionally all-Basque team added a French rider. This year, it was second-year professional Pierre Cazaux, who rode for {{UCI team code|FDJ|2010b}} in 2010.

The team achieved ten victories in 2011, down from a tally of seventeen the previous season, but among the ten were some of the most difficult days of racing in the entire season. These included back-to-back stages with summit finishes at the Giro d'Italia, with Igor Antón winning at the summit of the Monte Zoncolan,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/526442/anton-conquers-zoncolan-in-shortened-giro-stage.html|title=Anton conquers Zoncolan in shortened Giro stage|first=Nigel|last=Wynn|date=21 May 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media Limited|archive-date=19 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119152731/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/526442/anton-conquers-zoncolan-in-shortened-giro-stage.html|url-status=live}} and Mikel Nieve, who won by over 90 seconds the following day at the Val di Fassa.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/526452/nieve-wins-giro-mountain-marathon-as-contador-continues-at-the-top.html|title=Nieve wins Giro mountain marathon as Contador continues at the top|first=Nigel|last=Wynn|date=22 May 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media Limited|archive-date=19 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119161916/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/526452/nieve-wins-giro-mountain-marathon-as-contador-continues-at-the-top.html|url-status=live}} The squad's captain at the Tour de France, Samuel Sánchez won the first high-mountain finish of the race, up to Luz Ardiden; he eventually finished the race in fifth place overall, and won the King of the Mountains sub-classification.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/14266126|title=Mark Cavendish wins historic green jersey|date=24 July 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|quote=The polka-dot jersey for the Tour's best climber went to Spain's Samuel Sanchez, while Frenchman Pierre Rolland was confirmed as the best young rider with the white jersey.|archive-date=5 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405163717/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/14266126|url-status=live}} Though he failed to figure as an overall contender at the Vuelta a España, Antón won the first Vuelta stage ending in the Basque Country in 33 years, a stage with clear importance for the team.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anton-makes-up-for-disappointing-vuelta-with-home-win-in-bilbao|title=Anton makes up for disappointing Vuelta with home win in Bilbao|date=9 September 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-date=15 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515175442/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anton-makes-up-for-disappointing-vuelta-with-home-win-in-bilbao|url-status=live}}

2011 roster

Ages as of January 1, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.uciworldtour.com/Modules/SUCI/TEAMS/TeamDetails.asp?id=NQ&RefDate=30.12.2011&MenuId=MTYwMTc&LangId=1&BackLink=%2Ftemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI2%2Flayout%2Easp%3FMenuId%3DMTYwMTc%26LangId%3D1|title=Euskaltel-Euskadi (EUS) - ESP|date=30 December 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|work=UCI World Tour|publisher=Union Cycliste Internationale|archive-date=31 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331032332/http://www.uciworldtour.com/Modules/SUCI/TEAMS/TeamDetails.asp?id=NQ&RefDate=30.12.2011&MenuId=MTYwMTc&LangId=1&BackLink=%2Ftemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI2%2Flayout.asp%3FMenuId%3DMTYwMTc&LangId=1|url-status=live}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Igor Antón|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1983|3|2}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Javier Aramendia|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1986|12|5}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Mikel Astarloza{{#tag:ref|Astarloza joined the team on August 3, following the completion of a drugs ban.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astarloza-returns-after-two-year-ban|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=3 August 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|title=Astarloza returns after two-year ban|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009131110/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astarloza-returns-after-two-year-ban|url-status=live}}|group="N"}}|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1979|11|17}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Jorge Azanza|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1982|6|16}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Pello Bilbao{{#tag:ref|Bilbao joined the team on March 1.{{cite news|url=http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=36185|title=Pello Bilbao da el salto al Euskaltel-Euskadi: "Ha sido una gran sorpresa"|language=Spanish|trans-title=Pello Bilbao makes the leap to Euskaltel-Euskadi: "It was a big surprise"|work=Biciciclismo|publisher=Gurenet Teknologia S.L.|date=1 March 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=5 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605220248/http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=36185|url-status=live}}|group="N"}}|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1990|2|25}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Jonathan Castroviejo|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1987|4|27}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Pierre Cazaux|nat=FRA |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1984|6|7}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Koldo Fernández|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1981|9|13}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Iñaki Isasi|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1977|4|20}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Gorka Izagirre|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1987|10|7}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Jon Izagirre|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1989|2|4}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Mikel Landa|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1989|12|13}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Egoi Martínez|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1978|5|15}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Miguel Minguez|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1988|8|30}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Mikel Nieve|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1984|5|26}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Juan José Oroz|nat=ESP|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1980|11|7}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Alan Pérez|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1982|7|15}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Rubén Pérez|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1981|10|30}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Samuel Sánchez|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1978|2|5}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Daniel Sesma|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1984|6|18}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Romain Sicard|nat=FRA|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1988|1|1}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Amets Txurruka|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1982|11|10}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Pablo Urtasun|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1980|3|29}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Iván Velasco|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1980|2|8}}}}

{{Cycling squad rider|name=Gorka Verdugo|nat=ESP |birthdate={{birth date and age2|2011|1|1|1978|11|4}}}}

;Riders who joined the team for the 2011 season

Rider !2010 team
class="wikitable"
Pierre Cazaux	{{UCI team code\|FDJ\|2010b}}{{cite web \| url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/basque-racer-pierre-cazaux-fitting-in-perfectly-at-euskaltel-euskadi \| title=Basque racer Pierre Cazaux fitting in perfectly at Euskaltel-Euskadi \| author=Carrey, Pierre \| work=Cycling News \| publisher=Future Publishing Limited \| date=28 August 2011 \| access-date=26 October 2011 \| archive-date=30 August 2011 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830100811/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/basque-racer-pierre-cazaux-fitting-in-perfectly-at-euskaltel-euskadi \| url-status=live }}
Jon Izagirre	Orbea{{cite web \| url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/11/news/euskaltel-euskadi-celebrates-best-season-in-team-history_150780# \| title=Euskaltel-Euskadi celebrates best season in team history \| author=Hood, Andrew \| work=Velonews \| publisher=Competitor Group, Inc. \| date=23 November 2010 \| access-date=26 October 2011 \| archive-date=14 April 2015 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414071904/http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/11/news/euskaltel-euskadi-celebrates-best-season-in-team-history_150780 \| url-status=dead }}
Mikel Landa	Orbea
Pello Bilbao	Orbea

;Riders who left the team during or after the 2010 season

Rider !2011 team
class="wikitable"
Sergio De Lis	Retired{{cite web \| url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/euskaltels-de-lis-quits-cycling \| title=Euskaltel’s De Lis quits cycling \| author=Cossins, Peter \| work=Cycling News \| publisher=Future Publishing Limited \| date=9 August 2010 \| access-date=26 October 2011 \| archive-date=30 May 2016 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530112845/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/euskaltels-de-lis-quits-cycling/ \| url-status=live }}
Aitor Galdós	Caja Rural{{cite web \| url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/aitor-galdos-alonso \| title=Aitor Galdos Alonso \| work=Cycling News \| publisher=Future Publishing Limited \| access-date=26 October 2011 \| archive-date=7 August 2011 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807110123/http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/aitor-galdos-alonso \| url-status=live }}
Aitor Hernández	None
Beñat Intxausti	{{UCI team code\|MOV\|2011}}{{cite web \| url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6476/Movistars-Benat-Intxausti-looking-to-build-on-2010s-success-next-year.aspx \| title=Movistar's Beñat Intxausti looking to build on 2010's success next year \| author=Gruber, Jered \| work=Velonation \| date=24 November 2010 \| access-date=26 October 2011 \| archive-date=28 November 2010 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128214243/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6476/Movistars-Benat-Intxausti-looking-to-build-on-2010s-success-next-year.aspx \| url-status=live }}

One-day races

Prior to the spring season and the races known as classics, the team was active at the Vuelta a Mallorca series of single-day races. They took high placings at the unofficial Trofeo Palma de Mallorca (Fernández in eighth){{cite web

|author=Susan Westemeyer

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/trofeo-palma-de-mallorca-1-1/results

|title=Farrar takes his first win of the season

|date=2011-02-06

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-09-18

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918171333/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/trofeo-palma-de-mallorca-1-1/results

|url-status=live

}} and at the Trofeo Inca (Izagirre in 9th).{{cite web

|author=Susan Westemeyer

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/trofeo-inca-inca-1-1/results

|title=Hermans prevails in Trofeo Inca

|date=2011-02-08

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-09-18

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918164313/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/trofeo-inca-inca-1-1/results

|url-status=live

}}

=Spring classics=

Team captain Sánchez took the team's first race win of the season at the GP Miguel Indurain. The team effectively controlled the front of the race all day, keeping the peloton at a high pace and reeling in breakaways, including one from {{UCI team code|MOV|2011}}'s Vasil Kiryienka in the final kilometers that Sánchez later described as "strong." Atop the Basilica del Puy, Sánchez outsprinted second placed Alexandr Kolobnev so convincingly that he opened a time gap of 2 seconds.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/13th-gran-premio-miguel-indurain-1-hc/results

|title=Sanchez outpowers Kolobnev for GP Indurain win

|date=2011-04-02

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-04-04

|archive-date=2011-04-05

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405051839/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/13th-gran-premio-miguel-indurain-1-hc/results

|url-status=live

}} Sánchez also turned in a good ride at La Flèche Wallonne. The Asturian rode with the race's top favorites all day, and came third behind Philippe Gilbert and Joaquim Rodríguez atop the Mur de Huy at the finish.{{cite web

|author = Brecht Decaluwé

|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-fleche-wallonne-his/results

|title = Gilbert takes audacious victory atop Mur de Huy

|date = 2011-04-20

|work = Cycling News

|publisher = Future Publishing Limited

|access-date = 2011-04-26

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110425034645/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-fleche-wallonne-his/results

|archive-date = 2011-04-25

|url-status = dead

}} Sánchez also finished near to the front of the race at the last of the Ardennes classics, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, with tenth on the day.{{cite web

|author = Brecht Decaluwé

|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/liege-bastogne-liege-his/results

|title = Gilbert the great!

|date = 2011-04-24

|work = Cycling News

|publisher = Future Publishing Limited

|access-date = 2011-04-26

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110427052944/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/liege-bastogne-liege-his/results

|archive-date = 2011-04-27

|url-status = dead

}}

The team's presence at other single-day races in the spring season was paltry. Only two other races featured top-ten finishes from the team. Txurruka took seventh at the Klasika Primavera, finishing staunchly in the middle of a 15-man sprint at the finish. Antón similarly made all the day's selections and finished 11th in this group, as he built his form for the Giro d'Italia.{{cite web

|author=Alex Hinds

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/57th-klasika-primavera-de-amorebieta-1-1/results

|title=Hivert takes sprint from select group

|date=2011-04-11

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-09-16

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916081610/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/57th-klasika-primavera-de-amorebieta-1-1/results

|url-status=live

}} Later in April at the Gran Premio de Llodio, Nieve rode to eighth-place finishing with the first chase group behind a solo winner.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gran-premio-llodio-1-1/results

|title=Santi Perez wins GP Llodio

|date=2011-04-23

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-09-17

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917025322/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gran-premio-llodio-1-1/results

|url-status=live

}}

The team also sent squads to the Clásica de Almería,{{cite web|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/02/news/road/2011-clasica-de-almeria_161929|title=2011 Clasica de Almeria|work=VeloNews|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.|date=27 February 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=28 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228110545/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/02/news/road/2011-clasica-de-almeria_161929|url-status=live}} Milan–San Remo,{{cite web|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/03/news/road/2011-milan-san-remo-results_164531|title=2011 Milan-San Remo results|work=VeloNews|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.|date=19 March 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=12 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712073325/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/03/news/road/2011-milan-san-remo-results_164531|url-status=live}} Gent–Wevelgem,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gent-wevelgem-upt/results|title=Boonen sprints to victory|date=27 March 2011|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=27 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527220421/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gent-wevelgem-upt/results/|url-status=live}} the Tour of Flanders,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/results|title=Nuyens makes his big break through|date=3 April 2011|work=Cycling News|first=Brecht|last=Decaluwé|access-date=30 March 2012|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-date=6 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406122305/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/results|url-status=live}} the Scheldeprijs,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/scheldeprijs-1-hc/results|title=Cavendish prevails in Scheldeprijs|date=6 April 2011|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=3 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303040404/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/scheldeprijs-1-hc/results|url-status=live}} the Grand Prix Pino Cerami,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-pino-cerami-1-1/results|title=Scheirlinckx slays the Dragon|date=7 April 2011|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=16 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916130856/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-pino-cerami-1-1/results|url-status=live}} Paris–Roubaix,{{cite web|url=http://www.letour.fr/2011/PRX/LIVE/us/100/classement/index.html|title=Standing|work=Paris–Roubaix|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|date=10 April 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325024410/http://www.letour.fr/2011/PRX/LIVE/us/100/classement/index.html|archive-date=25 March 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} the Amstel Gold Race,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/amstel-gold-race-upt/results|title=Gilbert repeats at Amstel Gold Race|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=17 April 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=20 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420025939/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/amstel-gold-race-upt/results|url-status=live}} and the Vuelta a La Rioja,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-ciclista-a-la-rioja-1-1-1/results|title=Erviti bests Suarez for Rioja win|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=24 April 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=7 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007212154/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-ciclista-a-la-rioja-1-1-1/results|url-status=live}} but finished no higher than 12th in any of these races. Paris–Roubaix figured as an especially difficult day for the team, as Alan Pérez was the team's only classified finisher and was well down in 107th place on the day.{{cite web

|author = Brecht Decaluwé

|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix-his/results

|title = Van Summeren solos to gutsy victory at Paris-Roubaix

|date = 2011-04-10

|work = Cycling News

|publisher = Future Publishing Limited

|access-date = 2011-04-11

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110412011131/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix-his/results

|archive-date = 2011-04-12

|url-status = dead

}}

=Fall races=

The team had few noteworthy performances in later-season single-day races. Sánchez held the Clásica de San Sebastián as a target for his season, hoping to be the first Euskaltel-Euskadi rider to win the race.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sanchez-to-skip-vuelta-a-espana

|title=Sanchez to skip Vuelta a España

|date=2011-07-26

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-11-04

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104190503/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sanchez-to-skip-vuelta-a-espana

|url-status=live

}} Sánchez rode at the front of the race most of the day, until the winner Philippe Gilbert made his signature solo attack to earn victory. Sánchez finished near the back of the chase pack 14 seconds down the road, for eighth place on the day.{{cite web

|author=Barry Ryan

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-ciclista-san-sebastian-upt/results

|title=Gilbert's stunning season continues with San Sebastian victory

|date=2011-07-30

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2012-04-20

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420053314/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-ciclista-san-sebastian-upt/results

|url-status=live

}} Izagirre just missed the podium at the Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia, finishing fourth in a five-man escape that decided the race.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/prueba-villafranca-ordiziako-klasika-2011/results

|title=Simon wins Prueba Villafranca de Ordizia

|date=2011-07-25

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-08-07

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084334/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/prueba-villafranca-ordiziako-klasika-2011/results

|url-status=live

}} Near the end of the season, the team did obtain a podium finish. Trainee rider Peio Bilbao finished second in October's Tour de Vendée. He was just edged out by {{UCI team code|VCD|2011}}'s Marco Marcato in a five-man sprint finish. Only 14 riders officially completed this race due to race organizers strictly enforcing the time cut.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-vendee-1-hc-1/results

|title=Marcato wins from the break

|date=2011-10-02

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-12-04

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204160415/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-vendee-1-hc-1/results

|url-status=live

}}

The team also sent squads to the Circuito de Getxo,{{cite web|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/07/news/road/2011-circuito-de-getxo-memorial-ricardo-otxoa-results_186639|title=2011 Circuito De Getxo Memorial Ricardo Otxoa results|work=VeloNews|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.|date=31 July 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001444/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/07/news/road/2011-circuito-de-getxo-memorial-ricardo-otxoa-results_186639|url-status=live}} the Châteauroux Classic,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/chateauroux-classic-de-lindre-trophee-fenioux-1-1-2/results|title=Ravard wins in Châteauroux|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=21 August 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=12 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912124259/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/chateauroux-classic-de-lindre-trophee-fenioux-1-1-2/results|url-status=live}} Vattenfall Cyclassics,{{cite web|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/news/road/2011-vattenfall-cyclassics-results_188826|title=2011 Vattenfall Cyclassics results|work=VeloNews|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.|date=21 August 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105435/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/news/road/2011-vattenfall-cyclassics-results_188826|url-status=live}} the GP Ouest-France,{{cite web|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/news/road/2011-grand-prix-ouest-france-results_190228|title=2011 Grand Prix Ouest-France results|work=VeloNews|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.|date=28 August 2011|access-date=30 March 2012}} the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-quebec-upt-1/results|first=Kirsten|last=Frattini|title=Gilbert triumphs in GP Quebec City|date=9 September 2011|work=Cycling News|access-date=30 March 2012|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-date=30 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330113049/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-quebec-upt-1/results|url-status=live}} the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-montreal-upt-1/results|first=Kirsten|last=Frattini|title=Costa claims GP Montreal|date=11 September 2011|work=Cycling News|access-date=30 March 2012|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-date=24 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324235125/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-montreal-upt-1/results|url-status=live}} Paris–Tours,{{cite web|url=http://www.letour.fr/2011/PAT/LIVE/us/100/classement/index.html|title=Standing Élite|work=Paris–Tours|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|date=9 October 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126104638/http://www.letour.fr/2011/PAT/LIVE/us/100/classement/index.html|archive-date=26 January 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} the Giro del Piemonte,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-del-piemonte-1-hc-1/results|title=Moreno wins Gran Piemonte|date=13 October 2011|work=Cycling News|access-date=30 March 2012|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|archive-date=8 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508054252/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-del-piemonte-1-hc-1/results|url-status=live}} and the Giro di Lombardia,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-di-lombardia/results |title=Zaugg solos to win in Lombardia |date=15 October 2011 |work=Cycling News |access-date=30 March 2012 |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |first=Daniel |last=Friebe |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523014636/http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-di-lombardia/results |archive-date=23 May 2012 }} but finished no higher than 15th in any of these races.

Stage races

Sánchez won stage 4 at the Tour of the Basque Country in April, the team's first win in a stage race on the season. He made the day's selections and stayed with an elite group which formed at the top of the Arrate climb. Sánchez attacked on the descent and won the stage that way, though he did not have a time gap at the finish. Sánchez had also won the stage run on this same course in 2010.{{cite web

|author=Stephen Farrand

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/51st-vuelta-ciclista-al-pais-vasco-upt/stage-4/results

|title=Sanchez prevails in Eibar

|date=2011-04-07

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-04-11

|archive-date=2011-04-10

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410121100/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/51st-vuelta-ciclista-al-pais-vasco-upt/stage-4/results

|url-status=live

}} Antón finished on the podium, in third, at the Vuelta a Castilla y León,{{cite web

|author=Peter Hymas

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/26th-vuelta-a-castilla-y-leon-2-1/stage-5/results

|title=Tondo wins Vuelta a Castilla y Leon

|date=2011-04-17

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-04-18

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110426184952/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/26th-vuelta-a-castilla-y-leon-2-1/stage-5/results| archive-date= 26 April 2011 | url-status= live}} thanks to a fourth place on the race's one summit finish and a solid individual time trial the next day.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/26th-vuelta-a-castilla-y-leon-2-1/stage-3/results

|title=Savini steals queen stage as Contador's hopes vanish

|date=2011-04-15

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-04-18

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110427050201/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/26th-vuelta-a-castilla-y-leon-2-1/stage-3/results| archive-date= 27 April 2011 | url-status= live}}{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/26th-vuelta-a-castilla-y-leon-2-1/stage-4/results

|title=Contador best against the clock

|date=2011-04-16

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-04-18

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110427050154/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/26th-vuelta-a-castilla-y-leon-2-1/stage-4/results| archive-date= 27 April 2011 | url-status= live}} At the Tour de Romandie, Castroviejo took a relatively rare time trial win for the team, coming home mere tenths of a second better than Taylor Phinney and Leigh Howard in the {{convert|3.5|km|1|abbr=on}} prologue.{{cite web

|author=Laura Weislo

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-romandie-upt/prologue/results

|title=Castroviejo stuns in Romandie prologue

|date=2011-04-26

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-05-02

|archive-date=2011-04-29

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429045834/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-romandie-upt/prologue/results

|url-status=live

}} He turned in another strong time trial later in the Tour de Romandie, finishing ninth in the stage 4 race against the clock, which was {{convert|20.1|km|1|abbr=on}} long, as well as eighth earlier in the season in the {{convert|9.3|km|1|abbr=on}} time trial which closed out the Tirreno–Adriatico.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-romandie-upt/stage-4/results

|title=Zabriskie powers to Romandie time trial

|date=2011-04-30

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-05-02

|archive-date=2011-05-03

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503062106/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-romandie-upt/stage-4/results

|url-status=live

}}{{cite web

|author=Stephen Farrand

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-7/results

|title=Cancellara crushes final Tirreno stage

|date=2011-03-15

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-05-02

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318172554/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-7/results

|archive-date=2011-03-18

}} Castroviejo further confirmed his prowess in the short time trial by winning stage 1 of the Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid, a {{convert|7.8|km|1|abbr=on}} timed race. No rider finished within 10 seconds of his winning time.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/25th-vuelta-a-la-comunidad-de-madrid-2-1/stage-1/results

|title=Castroviejo captures opening stage time trial

|date=2011-05-07

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-05-11

|archive-date=2011-05-11

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511083351/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/25th-vuelta-a-la-comunidad-de-madrid-2-1/stage-1/results

|url-status=live

}}

The team had a successful Vuelta a Burgos in August. Defending champion Sánchez won the first stage, atop San Juan del Monte, by outkicking Joaquim Rodríguez in sight of the line as the two finished four seconds better than any other riders.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-burgos-2-hc/stage-1/results

|title=Defending champion Sanchez wins Burgos opener

|date=2011-08-03

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-11-04

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104205428/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-burgos-2-hc/stage-1/results

|url-status=live

}} However, he lost the race lead to Rodríguez when the latter won stage 2 in the city of Burgos.{{cite web

|author=Peter Hymas

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-burgos-2-hc/stage-2/results

|title=Rodríguez reigns in Burgos

|date=2011-08-04

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-11-04

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104204043/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-burgos-2-hc/stage-2/results

|url-status=live

}} The stage 3 team time trial then dropped Sánchez to fifth overall,{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-burgos-2-hc/stage-3/results

|title=Movistar rocket to TTT victory

|date=2011-08-05

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-11-04

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104204607/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-burgos-2-hc/stage-3/results

|url-status=live

}} before he improved to fourth after stage 4.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-burgos-2-hc/stage-4/results

|title=Moreno motors to hilltop stage win

|date=2011-08-06

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-11-04

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104203819/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-burgos-2-hc/stage-4/results

|url-status=live

}} Landa won stage 5 from a breakaway, his first professional victory. Winning the final climb also gave him enough points to take the race's mountains classification. The squad placed three riders in the top ten, with Sánchez fourth, Antón eighth, and Nieve tenth.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-burgos-2-hc/stage-5/results

|title=Rodríguez wins Vuelta a Burgos

|date=2011-08-07

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-11-04

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104204337/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-burgos-2-hc/stage-5/results

|url-status=live

}} Antón rounded out the team's season by winning the climber's prize at the inaugural Tour of Beijing.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-beijing-wt/stage-5/results

|title=Galimzyanov gets green with final stage win

|date=2011-10-09

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-12-12

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212133130/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-beijing-wt/stage-5/results

|url-status=live

}}

The team also sent squads to the Tour Down Under,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/santos-tour-down-under-provisional-start-list|title=2011 Santos Tour Down Under start list|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=17 January 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=29 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329050736/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/santos-tour-down-under-provisional-start-list|url-status=live}} the Vuelta a Andalucía,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vuelta-a-andalucia-ruta-ciclista-del-sol-start-list|title=Vuelta a Andalucia (Ruta Ciclista Del Sol) start list|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=21 February 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=7 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907152137/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vuelta-a-andalucia-ruta-ciclista-del-sol-start-list|url-status=live}} the Vuelta a Murcia,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vuelta-ciclista-a-la-region-de-murcia-start-list|title=Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia start list|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=1 March 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=7 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907142415/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vuelta-ciclista-a-la-region-de-murcia-start-list|url-status=live}} Paris–Nice,{{cite web|url=http://www.letour.fr/2011/PNC/RIDERS/us/partants.html|title=Riders list|work=Paris–Nice|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130110046/http://www.letour.fr/2011/PNC/RIDERS/us/partants.html|archive-date=30 January 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Tirreno–Adriatico,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/tirreno-adriatico/start-list|title=Tirreno–Adriatico 2011 start list|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317114735/http://www.cyclingnews.com/tirreno-adriatico/start-list|archive-date=17 March 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} the Volta a Catalunya,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ciclista-a-catalunya-upt-1/start-list|title=Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2011 start list|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=16 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916235957/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ciclista-a-catalunya-upt-1/start-list|url-status=live}} Bayern-Rundfahrt,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/bayern-rundfahrt-start-list-1|title=Bayern Rundfahrt: Start list|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=24 May 2011|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=8 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908003638/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/bayern-rundfahrt-start-list-1|url-status=live}} the Critérium du Dauphiné,{{cite web|url=http://www.letour.fr/2011/CDD/RIDERS/us/partants.html|title=Riders list|work=Critérium du Dauphiné|publisher=Amaury Sport Organisation|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204160003/http://www.letour.fr/2011/CDD/RIDERS/us/partants.html|archive-date=4 February 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} the Tour de Suisse,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/start-list|title=Tour de Suisse 2011 start list|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330002753/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/start-list|archive-date=30 March 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} the Brixia Tour,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/brixia-tour-2-1-1/start-list|title=Brixia Tour 2011 start list|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721060503/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/brixia-tour-2-1-1/start-list|url-status=live}} the Eneco Tour,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/eneco-tour-upt-2/start-list|title=Eneco Tour 2011 start list|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|access-date=30 March 2012|archive-date=29 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229095226/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/eneco-tour-upt-2/start-list|url-status=live}} and the Tour du Poitou-Charentes,{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-du-poitou-charentes-start-list|title=Tour du Poitou-Charentes start list|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|access-date=30 March 2012|date=22 August 2011|archive-date=28 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828055628/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-du-poitou-charentes-start-list|url-status=live}} but did not achieve a stage win, classification win, or podium finish in any of them.

Grand Tours

=Giro d'Italia=

Euskaltel-Euskadi has in their history been reticent to ride the Giro d'Italia, favoring the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España instead. After first indicating a reluctant willingness to participate as per the requirements of holding a ProTeam license,{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/euskaltel-will-ride-giro-if-required-to-do-so

|title=Euskaltel will ride Giro if required to do so

|date=2010-10-19

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2011-09-07

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907182129/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/euskaltel-will-ride-giro-if-required-to-do-so

|url-status=live

}} the team later stated that they intended to seek overall victory in the race with Antón.{{cite web

|author=Barry Ryan

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/euskaltel-euskadi-reveal-2011-objectives

|title=Euskaltel will ride Giro if required to do so

|date=2010-11-25

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2011-09-07

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907234400/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/euskaltel-euskadi-reveal-2011-objectives

|url-status=live

}} Antón was named as the leader of the squad, which included Nieve, Oroz, Isasi, Aramendía, Azanza, Cazaux, Sesma and Minguez to ride in support.{{cite web

|author=Cycling News

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anton-to-lead-euskaltel-euskadi-in-giro-ditalia

|title=Anton to lead Euskaltel Euskadi in Giro d'Italia

|date=2011-04-12

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2011-10-15

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015103803/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anton-to-lead-euskaltel-euskadi-in-giro-ditalia

|url-status=live

}} Antón tempered the expectations somewhat, saying that a stage win would be nice, as would General Classification success should it come, but that he was only banking on riding for the overall at the Vuelta a España.{{cite web

|author=Jean-François Quénet

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anton-is-only-one-kilogram-away-from-a-stage-win

|title=Anton is only one kilogram away from a stage win

|date=2011-05-20

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2012-01-28

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128001845/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anton-is-only-one-kilogram-away-from-a-stage-win

|url-status=live

}}

File:Nieve 4JDD 2010.JPG won the queen stage at the Giro d'Italia, one of the hardest stages in many years at the Grand Tours.]]

The squad was dead last of 23 teams in the stage 1 team time trial, losing more than a minute to the winners {{UCI team code|THR|2011}},{{cite web

|author=Stephen Farrand

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-1/results

|title=HTC-Highroad triumphs in team time trial

|date=2011-05-07

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2014-03-02

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302032455/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-1/results

|url-status=live

}} a result later described by team captain Antón as "a bit ugly".{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anton-im-not-here-for-the-maglia-rosa|first=Alex|last=Hinds|date=9 May 2011|access-date=31 March 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|title=Anton: I'm not here for the Maglia Rosa|archive-date=6 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306125058/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anton-im-not-here-for-the-maglia-rosa|url-status=live}} Antón finished with the group of overall favorites in the selective fifth and seventh stages, and was solidly eighth in stage 9 when eventual Giro champion Alberto Contador won the day and first took the race lead, but sat only in 11th place as a result.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-9/results

|title=Contador climbs to stage victory and into overall lead

|date=2011-05-15

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2014-03-02

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302084859/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-9/results

|url-status=live

}} The squad was, as could be expected, far more successful in the second and more mountainous half of the race. Antón's ride on stage 13 ending at Grossglockner in Austria moved him into the top ten overall for the first time, at seventh place, though he was again distanced from Contador at the front of the race and lay over four minutes down.{{cite web

|author=Peter Cossins

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-13/results

|title=Contador extends GC lead as rivals suffer

|date=2011-05-20

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2014-03-02

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302094325/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-13/results

|url-status=live

}} The next day's stage ended at Monte Zoncolan, one of the steepest climbs in all of professional cycling. Antón rode with the top overall riders until about {{convert|7.5|km|1|abbr=on}} to go, when he attacked and broke free. Riding for a time with Contador and Joaquim Rodríguez, who had bridged up, Antón put in another attack with {{convert|6|km|abbr=on}} left to go, and surpassed the remaining riders from the morning breakaway to occupy first position on the road. He rode alone to the finish for the stage win, by 33 seconds over Contador in second place.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-14/results

|title=Anton conquers Monte Zoncolan

|date=2011-05-21

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2014-06-05

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605064451/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-14/results

|url-status=live

}} Antón revealed after the stage that he had never ridden the climb before, having only seen it on television. He admitted it was a risk to attack for victory from as far out as he did and that he suffered badly in the final few kilometers, but was still able to hold on. Antón called the Zoncolan climb "mythical" and "absolutely the hardest climb for a bike race." The result installed him into third place overall, still more than three minutes down on Contador but only a single second behind Vincenzo Nibali for second place. Antón mused that he may try to hold on to his podium placing to the conclusion of the race.{{cite web

|author=Jean-François Quénet

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anton-delighted-after-mythical-stage-win-at-giro-ditalia

|title=Anton delighted after mythical stage win at Giro d’Italia

|date=2011-05-21

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2012-01-28

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128004203/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anton-delighted-after-mythical-stage-win-at-giro-ditalia

|url-status=live

}}

The next day featured the third consecutive summit finish prior to the second rest day, at Gardeccia, near the Fascia Valley. Nieve figured into a high-powered breakaway that formed right as the morning's initial breakaway was caught, after about {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}} had been raced. Also in the group were former Grand Tour winners Stefano Garzelli, Danilo Di Luca, and Carlos Sastre, and it was Nieve and Garzelli who formed a chase behind {{UCI team code|VCD|2011}}'s Johnny Hoogerland on the way to the Cima Coppi (the Giro's tallest climb) at the Passo Giau. Garzelli took the climb, and the Passo Fedaia that followed, and maintained first position on the road well into the stage-concluding climb, but Nieve eventually caught and passed him with {{convert|5.7|km|1|abbr=on}} left to race. Nieve won the stage, and as he approached the finish line he attempted to raise his arms in a gesture of triumph, but he found himself too fatigued to do even that. Nieve's ride had taken nearly seven and a half hours, visiting five grueling high-category climbs along the way. The day was not a good one for Antón. He finished eight minutes back of teammate Nieve, losing between four and six minutes to the race's top overall riders. He fell back to 11th with the day's results, while Nieve entered the top ten at fifth overall.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-15/results

|title=Two’s a treat for Nieve and Euskaltel-Euskadi

|date=2011-05-22

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2014-03-02

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302095907/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-15/results

|url-status=live

}}

Despite the stage 16 individual time trial being almost fully composed of the Nevegal climb, Antón finished the stage in 13th, a minute and 21 seconds back of the day's winner Contador while Nieve was 36th, two minutes 19 seconds down. Nieve fell to sixth overall, while Antón moved past David Arroyo for tenth as Arroyo lost even more time than Antón did.{{cite web

|author=Peter Cossins

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-16/results

|title=Contador time trials to stage win to extend lead

|date=2011-05-24

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2014-06-05

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605064457/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-16/results

|url-status=live

}} While Antón again fell from the top ten as a result of Kanstantsin Sivtsov's stage 17 breakaway ride gaining him just under three minutes,{{cite web

|author=Peter Hymas

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-17/results

|title=Ulissi awarded stage after Visconti gets grabby

|date=2011-05-25

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2014-03-02

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302085932/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-17/results

|url-status=live

}} Nieve's position held steady until stage 20, the Giro's final road race. {{UCI team code|MOV|2011}}'s Vasil Kiryienka rode to a dominant stage victory, coming in almost five minutes before the day's second-placed rider and about six minutes ahead of the largest group of the race's top riders. Nieve was a further three minutes down in 17th, and fell to tenth overall.{{cite web

|author=Susan Westemeyer

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-20/results

|title=Kiryienka soars to Sestriere

|date=2011-05-28

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2014-03-02

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302100126/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-20/results

|url-status=live

}} Nieve stood to lose time in the more straightforward stage 21 individual time trial, where he, like most of the team, struggles mightily. He indeed finished well down, in 114th place on the day nearly four minutes slower than the day's winner David Millar. With Sivtsov tenth two and a half minutes better than Nieve, he took the Basque's top-ten overall position, leaving Nieve to finish the Giro 11th overall. Antón, for his part, finished in 18th place, having lost nearly twenty minutes in stage 19.{{cite web

|author=Peter Cossins

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-19/results

|title=Tiralongo gets by with a little help from a friend

|date=2011-05-27

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2014-03-02

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302092519/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-19/results

|url-status=live

}}{{cite web

|author=Barry Ryan

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-21/results

|title=Contador claims second Giro d'Italia victory

|date=2011-05-29

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-11-29

|archive-date=2014-02-27

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227003148/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-21/results

|url-status=live

}}

=Tour de France=

With Antón focusing on the Vuelta a España, Sánchez led the squad sent to the Tour de France.{{cite web

|author=VeloNews.com

|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/news/samuel-sanchez-to-lead-euskaltel-euskadi-at-the-2011-tour-de-france_179517

|title=Samuel Sánchez to lead Euskaltel-Euskadi at the 2011 Tour de France

|date=2011-06-20

|work=VeloNews

|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.

|access-date=2011-12-02

|archive-date=2011-11-27

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127133639/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/news/samuel-sanchez-to-lead-euskaltel-euskadi-at-the-2011-tour-de-france_179517

|url-status=live

}} Team manager Igor González de Galdeano said that a stage win was an important objective, having come very close to one with Sánchez in the 2010 Tour de France, only to have him lose a two-up sprint to Andy Schleck. He also hoped Sánchez would finish in the top three. With the stage 2 team time trial presenting such a clear detriment to Sánchez' overall hopes, the team gathered for a special training session about two weeks prior to the Tour to focus solely on that discipline. Martínez, Verdugo, Txurruka, Velasco, Urtasun, Izagirre, and Rubén and Alan Pérez were also named to the squad.{{cite web

|author=Ben Atkins

|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8805/Euskaltel-Euskadi-announces-Tour-de-France-line-up.aspx

|title=Euskaltel-Euskadi announces Tour de France line up

|date=2011-06-20

|work=VeloNation

|publisher=VeloNation LLC

|access-date=2011-12-02

|archive-date=2011-10-23

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023151936/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8805/Euskaltel-Euskadi-announces-Tour-de-France-line-up.aspx

|url-status=live

}}

File:Samuel Sanchez maillot montaña.jpg held the King of the Mountains lead on two occasions, and won the jersey in Paris.]]

Sánchez' overall hopes took an immediate hit. Near the end of stage 1, two crashes greatly reduced the number of riders who contested the finish at the Mont des Alouettes. Despite this finish being slightly uphill, the stage was classified flat, meaning any riders who crashed within the final {{convert|3|km|abbr=on}} would receive the same finishing time as those they were with upon crashing, regardless of when they actually finished. The second of the two crashes occurred inside {{convert|3|km|abbr=on}}, but the first did not, and it was behind that first crash that Sánchez, as well as two-time defending champion Alberto Contador, was caught. As a result of little more than bad luck, Sánchez was immediately a minute and 20 seconds down, in 79th place.{{cite web

|author=Richard Moore

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-1/results

|title=Gilbert conquers Mont des Alouettes

|date=2011-07-02

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-02

|archive-date=2016-11-08

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108200244/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-1/results/

|url-status=live

}} The next day, despite extra team time trial training prior to the Tour,{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/quick-step-and-euskaltel-euskadi-name-tour-de-france-teams|title=Quick Step and Euskaltel-Euskadi name Tour de France teams|first=Stephen|last=Farrand|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=20 June 2011|access-date=31 March 2012|quote=To prepare for the stage two team time trial, the Euskaltel-Euskadi riders will gather in Vitoria on Wednesday for special time trial training under Gonzalez de Galdeano’s watchful eye.|archive-date=5 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305115025/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/quick-step-and-euskaltel-euskadi-name-tour-de-france-teams|url-status=live}} the squad finished still finished last of the 22 teams, losing a minute and 22 seconds to the day's winners {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}. This dropped Sánchez to 104th place.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-2/results

|title=Garmin-Cervelo wins team time trial

|date=2011-07-03

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-02

|archive-date=2017-01-09

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109172349/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-2/results/

|url-status=live

}} Sánchez began to climb back up the standings in stage 4, similar in profile to stage 1 as it was largely flat but with an uphill finish. Sánchez took eighth atop the Mûr-de-Bretagne, gaining 47 places in the standings as he took time out of the vast majority of the field.{{cite web

|author=Peter Cossins

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-4/results

|title=Evans takes photo finish over Contador

|date=2011-07-05

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2012-04-28

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428124722/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-4/results

|url-status=live

}} Sánchez finished close to the front of the race on stage 8 on Super Besse. {{UCI team code|MOV|2011}}'s Rui Costa took the victory alone a few seconds ahead of the field, but Sánchez finished fourth, in the first large group, improving his position to 29th.{{cite web

|author=Peter Cossins

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-8/results

|title=Costa claims Movistar's first Tour stage

|date=2011-07-09

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2012-03-02

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302202027/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-8/results

|url-status=live

}} Sánchez' time gap to the race leader grew as a result of stage 9, when Thomas Voeckler took the yellow jersey from a breakaway, but his position improved, to 20th, since riders who had begun the day ahead of him lost more time than he did.{{cite web

|author=Peter Cossins

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-9/results

|title=Luis León Sánchez wins crash-hit stage

|date=2011-07-10

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2017-01-09

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109172537/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-9/results/

|url-status=live

}}

Stage 12, the Bastille Day stage, was the first particularly difficult mountain stage in this Tour. It ended at the hors catégorie climb Luz Ardiden, and also visited the hors catégorie Col du Tourmalet and a never-before-seen first category climb La Hourquette d'Ancizan. Sánchez effectively stayed with the group of overall favorites throughout the day, and attacked with {{UCI team code|OLO|2011}}'s Jelle Vanendert on the way up to Luz Ardiden, surpassing the morning breakaway. Starting his sprint for the finish line from {{convert|250|m|abbr=on}} out, Sánchez won so convincingly that he opened up a 7-second time gap on Vanendert. It was Sánchez' first Tour stage win of his career and just the third in the team's history – one of them had come from former rider Roberto Laiseka on this very mountain in the 2001 Tour de France. Given the new points system for the mountains classification, Sánchez took the polka-dot jersey as mountains leader due to this win, even though he had not previously scored a single point. The result also installed him into the top ten overall for the first time, as he occupied eighth place.{{cite web

|author=Susan Westemeyer

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-12/results

|title=Sanchez prevails on Luz-Ardiden

|date=2011-07-14

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2012-04-28

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428124717/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-12/results

|url-status=live

}} The next day, by winning the Col d'Aubisque climb, Jérémy Roy took the mountains classification lead from Sánchez.{{cite web

|author=Peter Cossins

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-13/results

|title=Hushovd wins miracle stage in Lourdes

|date=2011-07-15

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2012-03-02

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302221727/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-13/results

|url-status=live

}} In stage 14, the overall favorites chased down a breakaway on the way to the Plateau de Beille summit finish. Once they occupied first position on the road, Andy Schleck tried numerous times to escape but was unable. Vanendert went, and no one but Sánchez put in any serious attempt to chase him down. Vanendert won the stage, and took the mountains classification lead, with Sánchez finishing second, exactly reversing their fates from stage 12. Sánchez also improved to sixth overall with this result.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-14/results

|title=Vanendert tops Plateau de Beille

|date=2011-07-16

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2012-01-09

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109163610/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-14/results

|url-status=live

}} Sánchez improved further in stage 16. While previous race leader Thor Hushovd won the stage from a breakaway, Sánchez, as well as Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador, took time out of some of the race's other top riders by riding away from them on the descent to the finish. Evans was three seconds the better of Sánchez and Contador, who were in turn 18 seconds faster than race leader Thomas Voeckler, Fränk Schleck, Damiano Cunego, and others. They were also 51 seconds the better of Ivan Basso and more than a minute better than Andy Schleck. This result moved Sánchez up to fifth place.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-16/results

|title=Hushovd smashes breakaway for second stage win

|date=2011-07-19

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2017-01-10

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110075602/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-16/results/

|url-status=live

}} Sánchez lost time on stage 18 on the Col du Galibier, finishing 18th almost five minutes behind stage winner Andy Schleck and between one and three minutes behind the race's other top riders. He fell back to eighth because of this.{{cite web

|author=Susan Westemeyer

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-18/results

|title=Schleck's mountain raid nets stage win

|date=2011-07-21

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2016-11-08

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108195814/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-18/results/

|url-status=live

}}

File:Tour de France 2011 à Créteil-2.JPG

Sánchez rebounded to turn in another strong ride on Alpe d'Huez in stage 19. He, along with Contador and Pierre Rolland formed the leading group on the way up the climb. Contador, who had been riding out front much of the stage after an early attack, faded first and finished the day in third place. Rolland eventually rode away from Sánchez for the stage win, but Sánchez' second place on the day moved him up to seventh overall, and back into the mountains classification lead.{{cite web

|author=Peter Cossins

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-19/results

|title=Rolland wins on the Alpe d'Huez at end of epic stage

|date=2011-07-22

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2016-11-17

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117004435/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-19/results/

|url-status=live

}} Sánchez, as well as Contador, moved up a place in the stage 20 individual time trial. Damiano Cunego, who had been in fifth place and is considered a poor time trialist, had a bad race against the clock even by his standards, losing two minutes to most of the race's top overall riders and more than three to the stage winner.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-20/results

|title=Evans conquers all with picture perfect time trial

|date=2011-07-23

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2017-01-10

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110075617/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-20/results/

|url-status=live

}} This moved him up to sixth place overall, the position in which he concluded the race the next day, while also finishing as mountains classification winner.{{cite web

|author=Barry Ryan

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-21/results

|title=Cadel Evans wins 2011 Tour de France

|date=2011-07-24

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2012-01-10

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110054010/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-21/results

|url-status=live

}}

=Vuelta a España=

Antón, as expected, was named as the squad leader for the Vuelta a España. His goal was overall success. He was joined in the squad by fellow Giro d'Italia stage winner Nieve, Martínez, Verdugo, Txurruka, Oroz, Isasi, Azanza and Cazaux.{{cite web

|author=Shane Stokes

|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9345/Igor-Anton-to-head-Euskaltel-Euskadi-team-in-Vuelta-a-Espana.aspx

|title=Igor Anton to head Euskaltel Euskadi team in Vuelta a España

|date=2011-08-09

|work=VeloNation

|publisher=VeloNation LLC

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2012-09-23

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923180654/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9345/Igor-Anton-to-head-Euskaltel-Euskadi-team-in-Vuelta-a-Espana.aspx

|url-status=live

}} Nieve commented a day into the Vuelta that he would ride solely to support Antón, despite the fact that both had won Giro stages and he (Nieve) had actually finished the race higher overall.{{cite web

|author=Kyle Moore

|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9487/Mikel-Nieve-All-for-Igor-Anton-at-the-Vuelta.aspx

|title=Mikel Nieve: All for Igor Anton at the Vuelta

|date=2011-08-21

|work=VeloNation

|publisher=VeloNation LLC

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2012-09-23

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923180454/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9487/Mikel-Nieve-All-for-Igor-Anton-at-the-Vuelta.aspx

|url-status=live

}}

The squad was solidly better in the stage 1 team time trial than they had been in the equivalent stages at the Italian and French Grand Tours, coming in 12th of the 22 teams. The result installed Antón 24 seconds back of defending champion Vincenzo Nibali, whose {{UCI team code|LIQ|2011}} squad finished second.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-1/results

|title=Leopard Trek claims team time trial

|date=2011-08-20

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-09-19

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919075256/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-1/results

|url-status=live

}} Antón had a bad ride on the Vuelta's first day in the mountains, in stage 4. On a blisteringly hot day, Antón lost contact with the main group of overall favorites on the way to the summit finish at Sierra Nevada, losing a minute and a half to the stage winner and more than a minute to the race's top favorites.{{cite web

|author=Peter Cossins

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-4/results

|title=Moreno climbs to stage victory in the Sierra Nevada

|date=2011-08-23

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-09-19

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919022813/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-4/results

|url-status=live

}} Antón admitted that he did not have the form of 2010, when he crashed out of the race while holding the overall lead. He said that even on the flat third stage he had come close to losing time to the peloton, and that while there was a long way left to race, he effectively ruled himself out of overall contention. Nieve, on the other hand, had finished with the race's top riders, and lay 14th overall at this point.{{cite web

|author=Ben Atkins

|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9511/Igor-Anton-I-dont-have-the-form-of-last-year.aspx

|title=Igor Antón: "I don’t have the form of last year"

|date=2011-08-23

|work=VeloNation

|publisher=VeloNation LLC

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2016-03-03

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225451/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9511/Igor-Anton-I-dont-have-the-form-of-last-year.aspx

|url-status=live

}} Antón and Nieve both rode well on stage 8 to San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Joaquim Rodríguez claimed the stage win atop a climb featuring 27% gradients in places, while Antón took sixth 15 seconds back and Nieve 13th a further five seconds back.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-8/results

|title=Rodríguez climbs to stage win

|date=2011-08-27

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921120126/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-8/results

|archive-date=2013-09-21

}} Both finished well back on stage 9, with Nieve ceding 41 seconds to the day's winner and Antón close to two minutes.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-9/results

|title=Martin triumphs atop La Covatilla

|date=2011-08-28

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-09-18

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918032655/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-9/results

|url-status=live

}} Both were all but conclusively ruled out of any overall contention in the stage 10 individual time trial, losing between three and five minutes to the race's top overall riders after their earlier time losses.{{cite web

|author=Daniel Benson

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-10/results

|title=Martin smashes Vuelta time trial

|date=2011-08-29

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-09-19

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919022804/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-10/results

|url-status=live

}} Txurruka found a winning breakaway in stage 11, but finished well back in seventh place, as David Moncoutié took a dominant solo win.{{cite web

|author=Stephen Farrand

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-11/results

|title=Moncoutie prevails on Estación de Montaña Manzaneda

|date=2011-08-31

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-11-03

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103152841/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-11/results

|url-status=live

}}

File:2011 Vuelta a Espana - Stage 19 - 001.jpg riding at the front of the breakaway early in stage 19, the first Vuelta stage to end in the Basque Country in 33 years. Antón later went on to win the stage.]]

The team set its sights to stage hunting in the second half of the race, hoping for success on difficult mountain stages, mentioning La Farrapona and Angliru as their targets.{{cite web

|author=Bjorn Haake

|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9587/After-two-Grand-Tours-with-stage-wins-Euskaltel-Euskadi-hopes-for-third-one-in-Vuelta-remainder.aspx

|title=After two Grand Tours with stage wins, Euskaltel-Euskadi hopes for third one in Vuelta remainder

|date=2011-08-30

|work=VeloNation

|publisher=VeloNation LLC

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2016-03-03

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203821/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9587/After-two-Grand-Tours-with-stage-wins-Euskaltel-Euskadi-hopes-for-third-one-in-Vuelta-remainder.aspx

|url-status=live

}} Nieve and Verdugo finished at the front of the race in stage 13, in a selective escape group, but finished 9th and 18th respectively in the 18-man sprint.{{cite web

|author=Susan Westemeyer

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-13/results

|title=Albasini claims Vuelta stage in Ponferrada

|date=2011-09-02

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-09-24

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924033803/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-13/results

|url-status=dead

}} Despite targeting the day, the squad could finish no higher than ninth on La Farrapona in stage 14, as Nieve took that placing. Antón, for his part, finished that stage in the last group on the road, more than half an hour down on the winner.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-14/results

|title=Taaramae tackles La Farrapona

|date=2011-09-03

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2011-09-24

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924033810/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-14/results

|url-status=live

}} The team was extremely active in stage 15 on Angliru, to the point that one post-race analysis suggested they "left it all" on the climb. Antón crossed the line in sixth place, a minute and 21 seconds down on stage winner and eventual Vuelta champion Juan José Cobo. He said it was the first day at the Vuelta that he had enjoyed.{{cite web

|author=Kyle Moore

|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9664/Euskaltel-Euskadi-leaves-it-all-on-the-Angliru.aspx

|title=Euskaltel-Euskadi leaves it all on the Angliru

|date=2011-09-04

|work=VeloNation

|publisher=VeloNation LLC

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2012-09-23

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923180533/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9664/Euskaltel-Euskadi-leaves-it-all-on-the-Angliru.aspx

|url-status=live

}} Nieve also had a decent ride, coming 13th, 41 seconds back of Antón.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-15/results

|title=Cobo climbs into Vuelta lead on Angliru

|date=2011-09-04

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2012-05-16

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516001358/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-15/results

|url-status=live

}} Antón and Nieve finished together in stage 17 on Peña Cabarga, 27 seconds back of eventual Vuelta runner-up Chris Froome for fifth and sixth place. This moved Nieve into tenth place overall.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-17/results

|title=Froome outduels Cobo on Peña Cabarga

|date=2011-09-07

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908010743/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-17/results

|archive-date=2012-09-08

}}

Stage 19 ended at Bilbao, capital of the province of Biscay in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. It was the first time the race had visited the Basque Country since the 1978 Vuelta a España, when Basque separatist protesters disrupted the race. Thus, it was clearly an important stage for Euskaltel-Euskadi, given their strong Basque identity. Its profile as a medium mountain stage suggesting a breakaway winner was also reasonably favorable to the team. The team indeed placed two riders into the day's four-man escape group – Antón and Verdugo. Antón won the climb at the Puerto de las Muñecas, which was the point when the race officially entered the Basque Country for the first time. Verdugo did far more work in the escape group than Antón, so Antón was left fresh to attack for victory {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}} from the top of the Alto El Vivero near the finish. This gained him a time gap over breakaway mate Marzio Bruseghin that he held to the finish in Bilbao, winning the stage.{{cite web

|author=Barry Ryan

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-19/results

|title=Anton wins stage on home turf as Vuelta returns to Basque country

|date=2011-09-09

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2012-05-15

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515153221/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-19/results

|url-status=live

}} Antón said of his ride “This is an historical win for Euskaltel-Euskadi!” and that he had specifically targeted this stage after his poor form earlier in the race destroyed his overall chances.{{cite web

|author=Bjorn Haake

|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9730/Igor-Anton-This-is-an-historical-win-for-Euskaltel-Euskadi.aspx

|title=Igor Antón: "This is an historical win for Euskaltel-Euskadi!"

|date=2011-09-09

|work=VeloNation

|publisher=VeloNation LLC

|access-date=2011-12-03

|archive-date=2016-01-06

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106133005/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9730/Igor-Anton-This-is-an-historical-win-for-Euskaltel-Euskadi.aspx

|url-status=live

}} Nieve held the tenth place he took on Peña Cabarga to finish as the team's best-placed rider, and Antón finished in 33rd place. All nine riders completed the race.{{cite web

|author=Les Clarke

|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results

|title=Sagan steals final stage from pure sprinters

|date=2011-09-11

|work=Cycling News

|publisher=Future Publishing Limited

|access-date=2011-12-03

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102215145/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results

|archive-date=2013-01-02

}}

Season victories

Date	Race	Competition	Rider	Country	Location
class="wikitable sortable"
{{dts	February\|20}}	Tour du Haut Var, Young rider classification	UCI Europe Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Gorka\|Izagirre}}\|ESP}}	{{FRA}}
{{dts	March\|27}}	Volta a Catalunya, Sprints classification	UCI World Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Rubén\|Pérez}}\|ESP}}	{{ESP}}
{{dts	April\|2}}	GP Miguel Indurain	UCI Europe Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Samuel\|Sánchez}}\|ESP}}	{{ESP}}	Estella-Lizarra
{{dts	April\|7}}	Tour of the Basque Country, Stage 4	UCI World Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Samuel\|Sánchez}}\|ESP}}	{{ESP}}	Eibar
{{dts	April\|26}}	Tour de Romandie, Prologue	UCI World Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Jonathan\|Castroviejo}}\|ESP}}	{{SUI}}	Martigny
{{dts	May\|7}}	Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid, Stage 1	UCI Europe Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Jonathan\|Castroviejo}}\|ESP}}	{{ESP}}	Casa de Campo
{{dts	May\|21}}	Giro d'Italia, Stage 14	UCI World Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Igor\|Antón}}\|ESP}}	{{ITA}}	Monte Zoncolan
{{dts	May\|22}}	Giro d'Italia, Stage 15	UCI World Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Mikel\|Nieve}}\|ESP}}	{{ITA}}	Gardeccia-Val di Fassa
{{dts	July\|14}}	Tour de France, Stage 12	UCI World Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Samuel\|Sánchez}}\|ESP}}	{{FRA}}	Luz Ardiden
{{dts	July\|24}}	Tour de France, Mountains classification	UCI World Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Samuel\|Sánchez}}\|ESP}}	{{FRA}}
{{dts	August\|3}}	Vuelta a Burgos, Stage 1	UCI Europe Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Samuel\|Sánchez}}\|ESP}}	{{ESP}}	San Juan del Monte
{{dts	August\|7}}	Vuelta a Burgos, Stage 5	UCI Europe Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Mikel\|Landa}}\|ESP}}	{{ESP}}	Areniscas de los Pinares
{{dts	August\|7}}	Vuelta a Burgos, Mountains classification	UCI Europe Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Mikel\|Landa}}\|ESP}}	{{ESP}}
{{dts	August\|7}}	Vuelta a Burgos, Teams classification	UCI Europe Tour	align="center"\| {{#tag:ref\|The riders on the squad were Samuel Sánchez, Mikel Nieve, Juan José Oroz, Iñaki Isasi, Peio Bilbao, Mikel Landa, Igor Antón, and Mikel Astarloza{{cite web\|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vuelta-a-burgos-start-list-1\|work=Cycling News\|publisher=Future Publishing Limited\|date=2 August 2011\|access-date=31 March 2012\|title=Vuelta a Burgos start list\|archive-date=4 November 2011\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104205007/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vuelta-a-burgos-start-list-1\|url-status=live}}\|group="N"}}	{{ESP}}
{{dts	September\|9}}	Vuelta a España, Stage 19	UCI World Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Igor\|Antón}}\|ESP}}	{{ESP}}	Bilbao
{{dts	October\|9}}	Tour of Beijing, Mountains classification	UCI World Tour	{{flagathlete\|{{sortname\|Igor\|Antón}}\|ESP}}	{{CHN}}

Footnotes

References

Category:2011 road cycling season by team

Category:2011 in Spanish road cycling

Category:Euskaltel–Euskadi