The race was won by Team RadioShack rider Andreas Klöden, who claimed the leader's yellow jersey for the second time – having previously won the race in 2000 – with a second-place finish on the final time trial stage.

Other heavy contenders included Ivan Basso as he prepared for the 2011 Tour de France, Damiano Cunego and Robert Gesink.

Samuel Sánchez had hopes in redeeming himself after a split in the peloton ruined his chance of victory in 2010, warming up for the race by taking the GP Miguel Induráin one-day race two days before the start of the Tour.

Fränk Schleck was also expected to do well after winning Critérium International and his brother Andy was also a part of the Leopard Trek squad in the Basque Country.

For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, the leader received a yellow jersey.