Paul Seixas claims his third stage victory at the Itzulia Basque Country, further extending his lead over the other favourites in the general classification.
Seixas is one step away from winning his first Itzulia.
Eibar returns to the Itzulia Basque Country once again; this time it won’t host the final stage, but it will undoubtedly be the queen stage of this year’s race. Eight mountain passes lie ahead, including the climb to Arrate via Krabelin. Many riders at the start had stated that the key to today’s stage was simply to have strong legs.
The day began with a solo breakaway by Baptiste Veistroffer (LOI, 216), who was eventually reeled in by the peloton. After numerous attempts to break clear, a group of 30 riders managed to open up a gap over the main peloton at around the 39-kilometre mark. Gradually, they built a lead of around five minutes. That group included Lorenzo Fortunato (XAT, 12), Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet (GFC, 21), Clément Braz Afonso (GFC, 22), Marc Soler (UAD, 37), Juan Pedro Lopez (MOV, 93), Raúl García (MOV, 94), Alex Aranburu (COF, 142), Ben Healy (EFE, 171), Markel Beloki (EFE, 172) and Kévin Vauquelin (IGD, 183), amongst others.
After the first part of the stage, the gaps began to come down; the Bahrain Victorious team increased the pace and reduced the leaders’ advantage to two minutes. Among them, the chasing group of 28 riders remained 1 minute and 10 seconds adrift of the leaders. Everyone was keen to be well positioned before the start of the demanding climb up Krabelin.
The leader’s team were at the front of the peloton as the climb began. The yellow jersey group had been whittled down to just 40–50 riders as a result of the punishing pace. It had barely covered 800 metres of the climb when Florian Lipowitz (RBH, 53) launched an attack that split the leader’s team apart, forcing him to respond personally to neutralise the move. The pair began to reel in the breakaway riders, gradually distancing themselves from the peloton. Haimar Etxeberria (RBH, 52), who had been part of the breakaway, helped set a steady, strong tempo on the climb. Paul Seixas stayed glued to Florian Lipowitz’s wheel, showing no signs of weakness. Once Haimar Etxeberria had dropped back, Paul Seixas took up the responsibility at the front; the leader showed no hesitation. A few metres further on, Kévin Vauquelin (IGD, 183) found himself alone at the front of the stage with a 19-second lead. Nicolas Prodhomme (DCT, 65), who had been part of the breakaway, went to work in support of his team leader.
On the climb, Florian Lipowitz was unable to drop the leader and tried, unsuccessfully, to do so on the descent towards Markina-Xemein. The rest of the favourites, including Pello Bilbao, Gorka Izagirre, Primož Roglič and Carlos Rodríguez, among others, joined the same group The only rider not in that group of general classification contenders was Mattias Skjelmose (LTK, 47).
Aranburu began to lead the group for Ion Izagirre, who was fighting to secure a podium place. From that same group, Marc Soler (UAD, 37) and Ben Healy (EFE, 171) launched an attack in pursuit of the stage win. With just 32 kilometres remaining, the breakaway group held a 40-second lead over the peloton.
The climb to Izua had begun, and the leader’s team increased the pace, closing down the gap to the race leader and dropping riders such as Mikel Bizkarra, Xabier Mikel Arrieta, Ibai Ruiz and Xabier Mikel Azparren. Ben Healy refused to give in and increased the pace. Paul Seixas’s team-mates didn’t last long at the front, as the leader himself set a blistering tempo, catching up with Ben Healy and reducing the leading group to just five riders. Only Roglič, Lipowitz and Izagirre were able to keep up. The Frenchman was once again showing his potential. Lipowitz tried again and dragged the race leader with him, while Roglič and Izagirre ceded a few meters. Paul Seixas glanced back at the damage he was causing. Roglič tried to bridge back to the leading pair but found himself in no man’s land on the climb, while Izagirre held his own steady pace a few metres behind. Javier Romo (MOV, 97), who chose to climb at his own pace from the back, grew stronger and caught and overtook Roglič, and joined the yellow jersey group. A momentary lapse just before the summit saw him hit the ground and lose contact with Lipowitz and Seixas.
Romo chose to wait for Roglič, who was just a few seconds behind, and the pair began working together to try to join the race leaders. Nobody held anything back. Seixas and Lipowitz continued to work together and held a 27-second lead Primož Roglič and Romo. Behind them, Izagirre’s group sat 53 seconds behind the leaders
The stage would ultimately be decided in a sprint finish between the two strongest riders in the race. Paul Seixas won the race in a close sprint finish. Seixas has extended his lead, while Lipowitz has consolidated second place in the general classification. Primož Roglič remains third overall, 3 minutes and 40 seconds behind the leader.
Standings after Stage 5
Stage winner: Paul Seixas (DCT, 61)
General Classification: Paul Seixas (DCT, 61)
Mountain classification: Paul Seixas (DCT, 61)
Points classification: Paul Seixas (DCT, 61)
Young rider classification: Paul Seixas (DCT, 61)
Teams classification: XDS Astana Team
Award for Fighting Spirit: Ben Healy (EFE, 171)
