Columbia-Highroad rider MIchael Albasini has sprinted to his first victory of the season on stage four in the Tour of the Basque Country. Albasini outpowered Christian Vande Velde of the United States and Belgian rider Jurgen Van Den Broeck at the end of a 140 kilometre long breakaway through very hilly terrain.

The main bunch finished around a minute later. For Swiss rider Albasini his victory in the Basque town of Güeñes was his first for Team Columbia-Highroad, which he joined at the start of 2009.

“Yesterday [Wednesday] was a very fast, tough stage, and today was equally tough in the first hour when the break formed,” Albasini commented. “There was a big climb early on and I made sure I stayed close to the front, following the first eight or nine guys all the time. After the break finally formed we worked hard all day, but it was pretty clear we could stay away. The final sprint was complicated, I led it out from the front with 300 metres to go. Fortunately it all worked out.”

For Albasini winning in the Basque Country confirms that he is back on track following a month-long period of very uneven form.

“After Tirreno-Adriatico, I wasn’t going well, one day I was good, the next day my legs felt empty. But here this was the first time I really felt as if I’m on top of my game again.”

After the Tour of the Basque Country, Albasini’s next big objective is to have a good ride in the Ardennes Classics.

“I hope that works out, but at the very least I can say is that today’s given me a big boost to my morale. At the same time, it’s nice to be able to get a win for Columbia-Highroad, as a way of saying thank you for believing in me as a rider.”