Basque races back on

Reports coming out of Spain today indicate the Vuelta al País Vasco and the Clásica San Sebastián will go ahead this year after all.

Jaime Ugarte, president of the Organizaciones Ciclistas Euskadi, says that nothing's official right now, but that the UCI's initiative yesterday, along with the support shown from fans and private and public institutions in the Basque Country, leaves him feeling "optimistic" and with "something to reveal later today".

"Nothing is set in stone, but we've got a lot going on. We're more optimistic than we were a few days ago. In fact, we may have something more concrete to reveal later today. Nothing would make us happier than that", Ugarte told El Diario Vasco.

The newspaper goes on to claim that the UCI have given the race organizers additional time to apply for their spot on the WorldTour calendar, and that if the race does go ahead, as it now seems, it'll be a part of cycling's top league not only this year but also in 2013.

"UCI president Pat McQuaid is following our situation closely and seems keen to help us find a way out of this situation we're in. Actually, he's told me he'll write to the Ministry of Culture and Sport and to the Basque government to help press our case."

Luckily for Ugarte and co., the Basque Country has got a representative on the UCI board: Ramón Mendiburu.

"Mendiburu is also supporting us, and the truth is we're quite surprised by how much they want our races to survive".

More on this case as news come in later today.