More than a month after his last win in the Tour de Slovenie time trial, Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) returned to the top step of the podium when he emerged as the strongest in the uphill sprint at the Circuito de Getxo. Having joined a 16-rider front group, the Italian beat Simon Yates (Orica-BikeExhange) and José Herrada (Movistar) into the minor podium positions.

We have gathered a few reactions.

Diego Ulissi: I had the sensations I missed in San Sebastian

Diego Ulissi won the Circuito de Getxo "Memorial Ricardo Otxoa", obtaining the first victory in his career in Spain and giving LAMPRE-MERIDA the 13th seasonal success.

Ulissi’s sprint on the short hill to the arrival completed a perfect performance by LAMPRE-MERIDA's riders, who were impressive during the race even though Pibernik could not be completely competitive because of a crash in which he got involved in the early kilometers of the race.
 

The team of the sports director Marzano was represented by Mario Costa in the first breakaway of the race, when 9 riders led the competition in the early 100 km. Twenty kilometers after that the peloton had bridged the gap to the first breakaway, 16 riders went clear: in this group there were three blue-fuchsia-green cyclists, Ulissi, Bono and Mori. Exploiting the support of his team mates, Ulissi his 4th seasonal success. Mori was 11th, Bono 16th.

"The condition is good and with the support of my teammates, I was able to express myself fully. I was able to find the kind of feeling I had in the race, feelings which I did not have yesterday [in San Sebastian],” explained Ulissi. “For the first part of the race, I was quiet in the group. Then when we made the decisive move, I realized that the action was good and it was important to have Mori and Bono at my side. The finish had the features I like best. I could not make it wrong.”

Tired Simon Yates continues impressive comeback with second place in Getxo

Fresh from his win in Prueba Villafranca-Ordiziako Klasika this week and yesterday's top ten finish in San Sebastian, Simon Yates continued his string of solid performances to finish second in today's one-day race, Circuito de Getxo.

Previously the race finished at the base of the 700metre ascent that the riders tackle on each of the ten laps. However, it has transformed into a battle between the climbers with a hill top finish. 

ORICA-BikeExchange were well represented throughout the race with sprint star Caleb Ewan in an early move, followed by Yates and Amets Txurruka eventually joining the day's winning breakaway group which established in the final three laps of the race.

Yates challenged for the victory pushing all the way to the line with Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida), but in the final metres Ulissi proved too strong, edging out the British rider to claim the victory. 

"We are really happy with the result," explained Sport director Dave McPartland. "Tactically the team did everything well and in the end Simon was beaten in the sprint, but coming straight from the race yesterday we have to be pleased with this.

"During the race he said he wasn't feeling good and even when he was in the breakaway he said he still wasn't feeling that great. It wasn't a surprise after the effort he put in yesterday, a six hour race and without coming from any stage racing.”

With wet roads, some tired legs and a technical circuit the bunch race was well animated with numerous attacks and crashes.

"The circuit was like a kermesse today," continued McPartland. "With many corners, roundabout and with wet roads there were a few crashes. Jack Haig and Luka Mezgec went down but luckily they were ok.

"Caleb did a good job getting into the early move, it wasn't planned but it was good in the end that he was in there as it enabled the guys who came from San Sebastian yesterday to ride themselves into the race and take the pressure off a little. 

"In the final Amets did a lot of work to bring in the rider on the final lap and this set up Simon well. It kept the race controlled without all the stop starting in the group which he prefers and then came down to a race into the final corner and all the way up to the line." 

Movistar come up short at Circuito de Getxo

The 71st Circuit Getxo on Sunday was the most open in recent years. With a peloton of seventy riders instead of the nearly two hundred who are usually found in WorldTour races, the Movistar Team led by José Luis Jaimerena was always on the offense and almost got the win as a result.

Ruben Fernandez, Fran Ventoso and Marc Soler were in a 10-rider break which was caught by Caja Rural before half of the scheduled 10 laps -170 kilometers – had been completed. José Herrada was asked to up the pace when the break was caught and then created the decisive group of 16 with four from the Blues.

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Antonio Pedrero continued to accelerate the race and Marc Soler bided his time while Jorge Arcas made most dangerous attack on the penultimate lap the, a solo attempt that entered the last 10 kilometers with options. Finally, Ulissi (LAM) beat Yates (OBE) and Herrada whose effort was at least rewarded with the podium (3rd).

Pello Bilbao sets sights on Vuelta and Burgos after fifth place in Getxo

Caja Rural - Seguros RGA put in a big amount of work in the peloton to control the early breakaways. Later on, Ángel Madrazo and Pello Bilbao attacked and made it into the winning group on the final laps of the race. In the sprint, Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) turned out to be the fastest rider, while Madrazo and Bilbao both made Top5 in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
 
Pello Bilbao said: 

“This was a very hard race. On the final climb, I tried to save energy for the sprint, but the gap was too big for me to come back. However, the overall balance is good. Now, I’m looking forward to Vuelta a Burgos next week and then Vuelta a España”.