Basso faces 'hellish' Vuelta stages

Italy's Ivan Basso (Liquigas) at the Vuelta a España

Italy's Ivan Basso (Liquigas) at the Vuelta a España (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Italy's Ivan Basso (Liquigas) faces three consecutive mountain stages starting today. He is 53 seconds behind the Vuelta a España race leader, Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne).