It was a large group of 30 riders that formed the early break and fought out the stage win on the fifth stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. Team Giant-Alpecin missed out the break with Tom Dumoulin first home in a 58th place.

The other three remaining riders in the race, Lawson Craddock, Caleb Fairly, and Johannes Fröhlinger, finished in 89th, 90th, and 117th position respectively. It was a genuine mountain-stage with nine categorized climbs and gradients over 20%.

Mikel Landa (Astana) had the best climbing legs today. He won the stage with a well-timed attack on the final ascent up.

Coach Aike Visbeek said after the stage: “It was a difficult stage again. We have tried to go for the break while a lot of attacks took place. 30 riders where able to escape from the bunch, unfortunately without one of us. From that moment surviving became first priority. Tom saved his legs again to really go for it in tomorrow’s ITT.”