Alberto Contador expects today's País Vasco stage thr🌼ee will shake up the general classificat൩ion. The 2008 race winner believes the weather in Spain could make the battle harder for him and his rivals.

"If everything goes as normal, there are a series of riders capable of winning the stage and, among them, perhaps the nu൩mber one favourite is Cunego. ඣHe is very strong and very fast," said Contador in a press release.

and . He currently lies in 11th place behind the overall leader and winner of Paris-Nice, Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne).

Cunego and Contador fought for victory in the closing moments of the race on day one. They battled with Samuel Sánchez (Eusᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚkaltel-Euskadi) and Joaqu&iacu🌌te;m Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne), but a chase group with Luis León Sánchez caught them.

"Antonio Colom, Joaquím Rodríguez, [Cadel] Evans and Samuel [Sánchez] are among the others that can make a difference. The Arrate [climb] will be crucial to distance those who can cause problems for you in the tim🅘e tri💙al and, in any case, you have to try to lose as little time as possible."

Today's stage is a homage to the defunct Euskal Bizikleta race. There are five mountain passꦆes, with four coming in the final 50 kilometres. The first category Alto de Ixua tops out three kilometres from the finish lౠine.

The six-day race ends with a on Saturday.