Bizkaiko Bira

Race details
Region	Biscay, Spain
English name	Tour of Biscay
Discipline	Road
Type	Stage race
History
First edition	1981 (1981)
Editions	29
Final edition	2009
First winner	Julián Gorospe (ESP)
Most wins	Hans Knauer (GER)
Final winner	Fabricio Ferrari (URU)

Bizkaiko Bira was a multi-day road cycling race held annually in Biscay, Spain. It was regarded as one of the most prestigious amateur races in the world. Many winners became professional after winning the race including Erik Dekker, Roberto Heras, Igor González de Galdeano and Julián Gorospe.

The race started in 1981 and lasted until 2009. The organizer was the Amorebieta Txirrindulari Elkartea (Cyclist Association of Amorebieta). They also organize the Klasika Primavera cyclist race. In 2005 due to economical problems, they refused to organize the race and Iñaki Barrenetxea Giraldez, a former professional rider took over for the next years. The race was supported by El Correo local newspaper, BBK. In 2010 the race was permananetly canceled.^[1]

The first winner was the local cyclist Julián Gorospe.

Major results

Year	Winner
1981	Julián Gorospe
1982	Enrique Aja
1983	Manuel Jorge Domínguez
1984	Hans Knauer
1985	Herminio Díaz Zabala
1986	José María Palacín
1987	Enrique Alonso
1988	Louis de Koning
1989	Barney Saint Georges
1990	Roberto Laiseka
1991	Heinrich Trumheller
1992	Erik Dekker
1993	Igor González de Galdeano
1994	Juan Carlos Domínguez
1995	Roberto Heras
1996	José Luis Urdiain
1997	Ernesto Manchón
1998	Paul Bertino
1999	Rubén Oarbeaskoa
2000	Patxi Ugarte
2001	Juan Fuentes
2002	Mikel Elgezabal
2003	José Ángel Gómez Marchante
2004	David Pérez
2005	Diego Gallego
2006	David Martín
2007	Alberto Fernández
2008	Marcos García
2009	Fabricio Ferrari

References