Diego Rosa (Astana) again proved that he is one of the greatest climbing talents by riding to one of the most impressive solo wins of the 2016 season in the queen stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. Having attacked already before the halfway point, he held off the peloton with a big margin to take his second professional win. Sergio Henao (Sky) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) dropped their rivals on the final climb to finish second and third respectively and the Colombian is now the new overall leader on the eve of the final time trial.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Impressive Diego Rosa: I did it like a circuit act

“I did it like a 'circus act' today!” exclaimed a super happy Diego Rosa after the finish line.

 

“I still had a big gap on the riders behind me so I’ve decided to cross the line as a mountain biker normally does, I was a mountain biker so it came natural to me. For sure, almost 130km alone at the front hasn’t been a joke but I dared, my legs gave me the answers I was searching for, and I didn’t look back until I’ve seen the arch of the finish.

 

“Besides the super exploit that gave me the victory in the queen stage of this important race, I’m satisfied because I was finally able to grow in a stage race as I dreamt of but this year I had always some flu or health problems in the previous races and, before today, I’ve never felt really well.

 

“On the contrary today, I had very good feelings so I joinedn the first escape. Then we were too many out there and the bunch couldn’t give us space. So I decided to take out a smaller group and I attacked. When I remained alone at the front I thought to continue even if I was at 130km from the end. I dared so much but it went so good. It was a real 'circus act'!

 

“One thought is for my captain Fabio Aru who crashed in today’s stage and was forced to abandon the race: I have just heard that he has no fracture and this is the best news.

 

"It was time to win a good race. I started the season with stomach problems, but then I trained well and I am in shape. This is my first race after the Paris-Nice and the truth is that I felt very well.

 

“Many riders always try to join the break but today I managed to be there and no one could follow me. I've given everythingl and I feel very happy to have reached the finish line.”

 

With the victory, Diego Rosa has also conquered the Mountains Jersey.

 

No fractures for Fabio Aru after bad crash in Pais Vasco

The X-rays on Fabio Aru’s left arm and hand have excluded any fracture. For him it is just a strong contusion between the palm and the wrist of the left hand. Aru was involved in a crash at km 89 of today’s stage. He tried to continue the race but, after 25km, he was forced to abandon the race due to the pain he was feeling on the left hand.

 

Henao ready for third shot at Pais Vasco win: This year the TT suits me better

Sergio Henao stormed into the race lead at the Tour of the Basque Country with a strong display of climbing on the penultimate stage.

 

The Colombian jumped from the peloton on the final climb and only Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) could stay with him as he finished in second place, three minutes and 41 seconds behind solo stage winner Diego Rosa (Astana).

 

Overnight leader Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) relinquished the yellow jersey having been dropped on the last ascent, and he finished over a minute down on Henao after crossing the line alongside the industrious Mikel Landa.

 

Those results mean Henao holds a six-second lead over Contador heading into a hilly 16.5km concluding time trial.

 

Rosa had attacked from the breakaway 100km from the finish, and as he pressed home his advantage the race became increasingly fractured behind.

 

Henao and Contador sprung clear on the lower slopes of the Alto de Arrate, and only Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) managed to get back in touch with that pair at the finish, setting up a mouthwatering finale on Saturday.

 

A delighted Henao spoke to TeamSky.com back at the bus and told us that he's over the moon to have secured the yellow jersey.

 

He said: "I'm really happy. I've fought really hard every day to take the leader's jersey and I finally have it!

 

"When me and Alberto [Contador] went to the front we both wanted to gain time ahead of tomorrow's time trial and we worked well together.

 

"The team did a super job today and I'm really happy with all my team-mates. Tactically today we did a great job today too - Mikel's attack before the last climb forced the other teams to work. Everyone has been super focused across the week."

 

And looking ahead to tomorrow's time trial, Henao is confident that the course suits him.

 

He added: "It's a hillier course than last year and the uphill sections will be really important. The time trial suits me better this year.

 

"I've been close a few times and hope that this time I will succeed. In the time trial I will give everything to see if I can win a race of this quality, with a high level and with a special feeling for cycling.

 

"It was a very complicated stage with the rain and the big fight on the road. Here the riders are very strong

 

"Sky did a very intelligent race and David Lopez ahead in key moments. When Alberto Contador attacked, I could go with him and now I just wait for the time trial on Saturday where the race is decided."

 

Henao has started the time trial as the race leader in 2013, 2015 and 2016.

 

Sport Director Dario Cioni concurs with Henao and believes he stands a good chance tomorrow, while he also praised the work of the team.

 

He said: "The course is very typical and it's good for Sergio. The strongest guy of the first four riders will win the overall and if Sergio pulls it off it will also be thanks to the work of all his team-mates. In this race we've shown we are the strongest team and to finish if off will be an amazing achievement."

 

Mikel Landa: I am happy because I gave it everything

“The time tral has a hard climb and a very fast descent. It will be very hard and you have to keep in mind that we are already tired. I think it will be very difficult for the favorites,” Landa said.

 

"I've given everything I could and therefore I have to be happy. Let's see how far we can get tomorrow, but Sergio Henao is very strong and we trust him.”

Alberto Contador: The race is still wide open

As the Vuelta al Pais Vasco’s queen stage, today’s route was never going to be easy. After more than 150km in the mountains and crossing seven categorised climbs, Alberto Contador made his move on the final climb of the day. Leaving the GC favourites behind, Contador teamed up with Sky’s Henao to take a podium spot on the race’s final road stage and moved up to 2nd in the GC rankings. It all comes down to the final day’s Time Trial, where a 16.5km course will decide who takes the overall win.

 

The action began in Orio, the finish for stage 4, and took place over a mountainous 159km route that finished on the Arrate mountain. The stage took in eight tough climbs, before finishing on the first category Usartza. With the race ending in a time trial tomorrow in Eibar, this was the last opportunity for the out and out climbers to make an impact ahead of the time trial. The conditions however, were cold and wet, meaning there was every chance of crashes on the steep, technical descents.

 

Tinkoff’s leader, Alberto Contador, was wary of the conditions and how they could affect the race.

 

"It was a complicated day that really brings out the hardships of the sport of cycling. We had to be focused and attentive all day long because of the combination of incredible downpours and very low temperatures. The race had a fast pace and the most important point was to stay well protected from the cold and eat.”

 

From the start line came the breaks – the climbers were eager to take as much time as possible, with a chase group as well as the breakaway in front of the peloton. As the day went on, these splits were caught, broke away again, and split again, and as the race hit the final 15km, there were four groups – the solo breakaway, and two sets of chasers, before the peloton. With Sky’s Landa in the second set of chasers, the peloton – where the favourites were sitting – had to make sure the Spanish Sky rider didn’t gain time over the other GC riders.

 

Sport Director, Steven De Jongh, explained how the race panned out.

 

"It was a cold day out there as expected - but it was a big day in the race and a big one for the team. The boys really worked hard today. Michael Valgren worked well before the third last climb to keep the pace up for Alberto. On the top of that climb Roman Kreuziger was just behind the group with Alberto and Robert Kiserlovski there, but he already worked hard yesterday and didn't manage to get back to it.”

 

After a stage where support from the team was so important, both in keeping him safe and to deliver him to the final climbs feeling fresh, Contador was full of praise for his teammates, echoing his Sport Director’s comments.

 

“The team supported me very well at all times. There were a few hectic moments but in the end we managed to control the stage and advance.”

 

The final 10km saw Alberto Contador at the front, looking comfortable and calm, and as the last of his teammates dropped off having brought him to the Usartzako, with 4.2km to go he started the bridge to the chasers, taking Henao with him and getting away from the peloton and the other favourites, he caught Landa quickly and flew past the chasers. The stage win wasn’t the aim today – but to take some final seconds from the favourites, and crossing the line in 3rd, this was exactly what he achieved.

 

De Jongh continued.

 

"So we had Alberto and Robert there. Robert had to work hard when Landa was in front - he pulled together with Movistar and set it up for Alberto to attack. Alberto was strong today and only Henao could go with him. They worked well together and finished together behind Diego Rosa who did a very impressive ride to win. Behind them there were two closing in fast, but then some more distance to the other GC contenders so he moved up into second and is in a good position ahead of tomorrow's time trial.”

 

Contador’s 3rd place finish today moved him up to 2nd in the GC rankings, six seconds behind the new race leader. The final day’s time trial will be the race decider. Covering a 16.5km course, there’s a steady climb in the first half, followed by an equally steady descent. This is not a course that will suit the outright TT specialists however, and will require climbing ability and great bike-handling skills in the final few kilometres.

 

"Now it’s all down to the tomorrow's race.” said De Jongh of tomorrow’s stage. “We've already looked at the first part of the climb for tomorrow, and the descent goes down today's final climb. It's a decent climb and then a technical descent, being fast with an average gradient of over 9% average - and it will be very technical if it's wet again. We will wait and see what tomorrow brings."

 

With one day of the race left, Contador was pleased at the overall time gains, but was waiting to see what tomorrow brings.

 

“We gained time against some riders but the race remains still open. We have to make sure our legs work well tomorrow and we'll see what result we get."

 

Joaquim Rodriguez: Why not win the race again?

It was terrain Joaquim Rodriguez was familiar with and looking forward to on Friday in the 56th Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco. With a solo rider well clear of the favorites, Rodriguez showed good form on the final climbs and used his energy to gain time on the general classification, moving into fourth place overall after the Queen’s stage of climbing ended atop the Arrate (Eibar).

 

”It was so cold today, which made it really hard for all of us. We used up forces to keep our bodies warm, but on the other hand, I have to say that at the end I really felt good. So this race is not over. Tomorrow we have a time trial that really suits me, as it is a climbing time trial. I am fourth now in GC. My goal is to finish on the podium and why not in first place?” asked team leader Joaquim Rodriguez.

 

Rodriguez showed his improving form and took 4th on the stage at 3:15, two-seconds behind Sergio Henao (Team Sky) and Alberto Contador of Tinkoff. KATUSHA teammate Simon Špilak was eleventh (+4:12).

 

Joaquim Rodriguez is fourth at 12-seconds, only two-seconds from the podium place of Thibault Pinot of FDJ.

 

Team KATUSHA’s Maxim Belkov and Egor Silin both made the early break before Silin was caught on the steepest climb Alto de Ixua. Rodriquez tried something on that climb, putting up a brave effort that paid off in moving him closer to the top of the leader board. 

 

Thibaut Pinot: I’ll try to be on the podium after the time trial

Thibaut Pinot was again excellent, took fifth place after having annihilated an attack from Contador (Tinkoff) and Henao (Team Sky) and climbed to third in the GC before the final stage.

 

"One of my riders dismounted," FDJ sports director Yvon Madiot said, "but William Bonnet again did a lot of work. He gives everything. Others have done the job that I expected and finally, Sébastien Reichenbach (still tenth overall) was again a great lieutenant. In the finale, Thibaut was a little cold. Therefore he went back to get him a jacket and something to eat.Then he positioned him on the wheel of Contador at the bottom of the last climb.

 

"Contador attacked again and Thibaut could not follow. He preferred to find his rhythm rather than get in the red zone and it gradually reduce his delay that had approached ten seconds. At the summit, and in the final part, Rodriguez (Katusha) took two turns. At the finish line, Thibaut finished two seconds behind Contador and Henao. Overall, he is ten seconds from Henao, 4 seconds behind Contador. Rodriguez is fourth at two seconds and Quintana is at 21 seconds. "

 

"The TT is 16.5 km. It is primarily a wall of three kilometers with a section of 20%, a descent of six kilometers and then the flat finale. This is not the course that pleases us most,. We would have preferred a hilly terrain with long streteches. Thibaut will do it with a normal bike equipped with an extension. We will leave the hotel around 10 am. He will warm up, do a recon and then take a real rest in bus where he will eat well. It will be crucial to stay warm but we will be happy to have the reference time of Seb Reichenbach and some rivals, too."

 

“I'll try to finish on the podium,” Pinot told L’Equipe. “It would be a great result. Today was the queen stage, the weather played a big role and it suited me: I love the cold and rain. I missed a little bit to respond to the attack of Contador and Henao but we ended justa few meters behind him and Contador. I am happy with my result.”

 

Samuel Sanchez pleased to defend top 5 in Basque queen stage

Samuel Sánchez finished in sixth place and currently sits in 5th on the General Classification, 31 seconds behind new race leader Sergio Henao (Team SKY).

 

“Today was a super hard day. It was really, really tough with all of those climbs. But I’m happy to still be in the top five on GC. I was still up there in the final climb and the team did a really good job of protecting me today,” he said.

 

“I’m looking forward to giving it one more go in the time trial tomorrow as it’s going to be very hard. I’ve had a good five days of racing so far and have been happy with my legs and my form.”

 

Yvon Ledanois, Sports Director, added:

 

“For us today was a good result. It was normal for Samuel to lose a bit of time on such a tough stage like today. We had Peter Velits and Amaël Moinard in the breakaway so it was good to see them racing aggressively.

 

“Now we look at tomorrow’s final time trial. It’s a very important stage and the race is far from over. At 16km with a climb and technical descent we could see changes to the final GC order. Henao and Contador have a fairly big lead but you never know. We would like to keep Samuel in the top five. At the end of the day we walk away with a stage win and that’s what we wanted.”

 

Nairo Quintana admits mistake: I became too cold

The Queen stage of the Vuelta al País Vasco brought yet another change in the race lead, with Sergio Henao (SKY) on top of the Itzulia's leaderboard for the third time in his career before the decisive TT. The Colombian came across the finish with Contador (TNK) as the best two GC contenders in Usartza, a duo which Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) tried to follow without success.

 

The Colombian climber from the telefónica squad was sufficiently well supported all the way until the final ascent. While Winner Anacona made his way into the 24-rider break that served as launchpad for Diego Rosa's (AST) fine solo win, Giovanni Visconti, delivering after his expressed desire to serve as final support for his team leaders, pushed through the entire ascent and descent of the Alto de San Miguel. The Italian complied with a crucial role as Mikel Landa (SKY) had surprised the main field by attacking on  the downhill of the Ixua-Matsaria climb.

 

Over in Arrate, Contador and Henao's acceleration put 28" into Quintana who climbs up two places overall (6th) yet concedes now 38" on the yellow jersey. The race will be decided, again in Arrate, on Saturday over a hilly 16.5km ITT.

 

Quintana said: “It wasn’t only Arrate: the whole race was really hard today. Race conditions were tough as hell, and for some reason I can only blame myself, I got too cold under the rain. That really hits hard in the decisive moments. I chose to follow my own pace when Contador and Henao attacked: I was already feeling a bit out of energy, and should I have followed their wheels, I knew I’d crack sooner or later. I could only keep my own rhythm to limit any losses. I hope to complete this race as strong as I can and keep fighting in tomorrow’s TT - that’s how we came here, with an aim to fight until the very end.”

 

Lawson Craddock on the verge of breakthrough top 10 in Pais Vasco

Lawson Craddock posted a brilliant eighth place finish on the queen stage of Pais Vasco today. He sits seventh overall heading into tomorrow's final stage time trial.

 

"When we hit the final climb, I was just doing my best to repay my teammates for the effort they had put in all week," he said. "I knew that if I just rode within my limits that I could have a strong result for us. When the favorites started attacking it was just full gas to the top for me. I had a lot of power still left in my legs and I was able to pick guys off one by one. I'm really happy with how I finished today, but the second I crossed the finish line I started to focus on tomorrow's TT. This race is far from over, and I plan to finish it off strong."

 

Rui Costa: I tried to limit my losses

After  Diego Ulissi had been in the early break, Rui Costa finished 9th for Lampre-Merida.

 

”It was a cold day,” he wrote in his diary. “We spent much of the day in the rain and the temperature hovering around 5 C. The clothes was not enough and my brother even gave me his raincoat. Still, it was hard to keep the body warm.This queen stage was tougher than I expected. The attacks on the last ascent took my legs to the limit. Once the favorites attacked, I responded and pulled as much as I could. I tried to limit the losses. I felt I could not do better. I gave everything I had. I am resigned to 9th place of this stage. I am also in 9th place overall.

“Tomorrow is another day to take the legs to the limit. It is 16km of full gas and we will see what happens. The goal is to keep me in the top ten of this race. We'll see if my legs can recover.”

 

"Today we did well,” sports director Marco Marzano said. “It was good to have Ulissi in the break which was could have reached the finish as it was big.

 

”Rui has again shown to be one of the best 10 riders. Yomorrow he must give what’s left to try to improve the position."

 

Excellent performance by Serge Pauwels in Pais Vasco queen stage

For Dimenion Data, Natnael Berhane was very active, attacking and counter attacking countless times to eventually force a group of 14 riders clear. The Eritrean champion was part of the move, but already he had spent a lot of energy just to make the break.

 

When the race started the 6th climb of the day, the majority of the early break was caught, including Berhane, while Rosa still had a good 6-minute lead. Serge Pauwels was showing he was once again a man for the tough days as he came to set the pace on this, the steepest climb of the day, before attacking over the summit. On the descent, Mikel Landa (Team Sky) and Simon Clarke (Cannondale) rode across the gap to the Belgian and the trio then picked up two riders from the early break. The 5 went over the penultimate climb of the day together and managed to arrive at the foot of the final climb with a 30" gap back to the main favourites group.

 

The big names started attacking from the favourites group and Contador and Henao soon caught and passed the group of Pauwels with 5km to go. Pauwels was the last rider to surrender from the group of 5 as he held onto the wheel of Contador and Henao the longest. His fighting spirit was good enough to earn him 10th place on the stage, a great effort after such a difficult day.

 

Pauwels said:
 

“This was a very hard stage. The weather was again pretty bad and there were a lot of climbs. On the steepest climb of the day I felt pretty good and decided to anticipate and to attack on the descent. Then Landa came across on the next climb and so we had a little advantage to start the finishing climb ahead of the Contador group. There I rode my own rhythm to finish top 10. I am happy with the result as this is the highest level of racing you can get. ”

 

Sports director Alex Sans Vega added:
 

“This must be the most difficult week long stage race of the year. Again it was raining at the start and cold, and again there were a lot of attacks. The pace was really fast, eventually Natnael got into a group that got a few seconds. Then some more riders got across and they were able to take a few minutes on the peloton. It didn't take long before there was more attacking, Rosa went clear and 4 guys were chasing him with Natnael's group just behind them for most of the stage. On the very steep climb Natnael's group was caught. Serge was feeling really good so he tried to go solo. On the descent he was joined by Landa, Clarke and two others. They started the last climb with a small lead and then the favourites started attacking. Serge was the last of the 5 to be caught, he kept his pace going as he was feeling really good and he ended with a top 10. On a day like today and after a hard week like we have had, this is a very good result.”

 

Wilco Kelderman loses race leader after crashing in Pais Vasco

Wilco Kelderman slipped to eighth place in the Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco after crashing. Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s climber fell after 110 kilometres, but salvaged the day with a 14th place. Diego Rosa (Astana) won the stage and Sergio Henao (Team Sky) took over the jersey from Kelderman.

 

“We had the situation under control for a long time,” Sports Director Addy Engels said. “We let go a very big breakaway on purpose because we thought that it was easier to take control over a big group of riders than having a chaotic situation in the peloton for a while. Everything seemed perfect until Wilco slipped in a curve on a descent.”

 

 

Kelderman didn’t crash heavily, but he paid.

 

“Victor Campenaerts took the turn first and he had to correct a little bit,” Kelderman explained. “I braked heavily and slipped away into the gutter. I didn’t crash heavily, but had to change bikes. I was in trouble on the penultimate climb. That was a long and steep one. I was a little bit behind on top of it, but was able to bridge immediately. I’m satisfied with the way I finished this stage, though. I’m still in a good position.”

 

Robert Gesink came through the stage with more damage.

 

“Robert came to the car suddenly and he was totally frozen,” Engels added. “He tried to put on some other clothes. At the foot of the climb, he was back in front of the group, but the cold gave him such a knock that he wasn’t able to deliver anymore. 

 

“We’re satisfied about this race, though. Until today, we had two riders in the top 10 and we still have one there. The team was strong and we played our role in one of the most difficult races of the year. Maybe Wilco can move up to the seventh place in tomorrow’s closing time trial.”

 

Simon Yates crashes out of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco

A heavy crash 100kilometres into stage five forced Simon Yates of ORICA-GreenEDGE to abandon the 2016 edition of the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco today.

 

2015 Tour De Romandie stage winner Michael Albasini was the team’s best finisher on the day in 16th place. Stage winner Diego Rosa (Astana) broke free from the days early breakaway with over 70kilometres still to race and held on for the solo win.

 

Sport director Neil Stephens was thankful that Yates did not sustain any obvious serious injury.

 

“What a day,” said Stephens. “We knew it was going to be an incredibly hard day and we had a good race plan at the start of the stage to try and work for Simon (Yates) until the final climbs. Unfortunately due to the crash we had to adapt and at that point it was too late.

 

“Simon needs to have some more x-rays but at the moment nothing appears to be broken. His knee is in pretty bad shape as are his ribs and wrist but hopefully he will make a speedy recovery.”

 

ORICA-GreenEDGE started the day with attacking intent with the Spanish duo ofRuben Plaza and Amets Txurruka both present in the early breakaway. The break unfortunately splintered before the bulk of the group were pulled back over the first couple of climbs.

 

“Ruben (Plaza) and Amets (Txurruka) were our guys for the first part of the stage,” continued Stephens. “Until Rosa broke free it was looking like we might be able to maintain our positions and push on from there.

 

“Obviously everyone is disappointed about how the week has played out, on behalf of the team I would like to thank the fans for their continued support, they are always incredible wherever we are racing.”

 

Bauke Mollema: I am not as good as I was last year

The list of abandons was long in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco fifth stage that turned into a game of survival for most. 

 

A cold rain combined with eight categorized steep climbs and numerous uncategorized ones to create a race that turned into an accomplishment to complete the 159 punishing kilometers. 

 

Bauke Mollema pushed himself to the limit to cross the line in 18th place, 4 minutes and 41 seconds behind the lone survivor of the day's breakaway, Diego Rosa (Astana), who soloed to a dramatic win. 

 

Mollema moved up to 16th in the overall classification (+2'02), but his goal of a top 10 was all but eliminated in a stage where bluffing was impossible.

 

"I think my level is a little bit less this year in this race than last year," explained Mollema. "The feeling is not really bad, but I just miss a last little bit. I kept pushing because I know I need this race for the Ardennes and everything that comes after. 

 

"I was close behind after the steep climb and came back on the descent, but it has been a very hard week, the last five days it has been 250-270 average watts, and that is a lot for me, especially when you factor in all the descents." 

 

Haimar Zubeldia joined an early 18-man escape, but it did not take long for the breakaway to explode as Rosa surged clear on the third climb after 40 kilometers, while behind the peloton also drastically reduced its numbers. 

 

The crucial moment came with the brutally steep Alto de Ixua climb that extracted the largest toll, whittling the peloton to 12 riders before some of the strongest climbers – struggling under the harsh conditions - clambered back, including Bauke Mollema, ahead of the final climb to the finish.

 

"Haimar did not have a really good day, but at least he was in [the breakaway], " said director Kim Andersen. "Laurent (Didier) was also very close to making it when the next eight riders went to the group; he was missing just a little at the top of the climb to be there. After that, it was all about staying warm, and keeping Bauke safe. I really liked when I saw the team bringing Bauke into good position before the steep climb." 

 

Ahead, Diego Rosa (Astana) never faltered. He increased his lead to more than six minutes over an unmotivated chasing peloton that was concerned only with keeping energy for the overall classification battle on the final ascent.

 

Rosa crossed the line for an epic solo victory while Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) and Sergio Henao (Sky) proved the best in the GC fight, passing together 3 minutes and 13 seconds behind to give Henao the leader's jersey by six seconds over Contador.

 

"Bauke is missing a little bit, but he managed to come back to the GC favorites group," continued Andersen. "That was good, but then he had nothing more on the last climb. Nothing great for us today, but looking on the positive side, it was a hard, hard day and to be in the front group at the end is not horrible."

 

"It’s been a hard week, but a good week to make some steps [in my fitness]," added Mollema, keeping an optimistic outlook after a tough race. "Tomorrow's TT will probably be in the rain, it's hard with a steep butt-kicking climb, and I won't take any risks in the descents because I don't have any real chance at top 10 anymore. I just want to do a good TT, it's a good test for other important TTs later in the year."

 

Maxime Monfort: I thought Rosa had attacked too earlu

Sander Armée and Maxime Monfort were part of the break. After Diego Rosa decided to attack, Armée and Monfort chased the Italian for a while but they never managed to bridge the gap. On the final climb of the day the two Belgians were caught by a seriously reduced GC group.

 

Louis Vervaeke lost two places on GC and is now fourteenth at 1’38” of the new leader, Henao.

 

Tim Wellens, Tony Gallopin and Jelle Vanendert abandoned the race today with the Ardennes Classics in mind.

 

Lotto Soudal sports director Mario Aerts said: “The plan today was that if there was a large breakaway, we would try to be part of that with Sander and Maxime. Of course the other objective we had was to defend our position in the general classification with Louis. A big breakaway went clear today, and Sander and Maxime both got into it, so it was a job well done by them. Although Diego Rosa was very strong today, our two riders in the break fought very well, and they were virtually second and third on the road for a long time, so I think they put in a good ride, and at the end they were ultimately caught by the favourites.

 

”Louis had one bad moment on the very steep climb today, so that was a pity for him and his general classification ambitions. However, he managed to come back from that and limit his losses, and now sits in 14th position in the general classification. If you look at who is in front of him in that classification – some of the best riders in the world – I think he did a good ride today.”

 

Monfort said: “It was our aim to get into the breakaway today. Sander was the first one to get into a break of about fifteen riders. Then I was the next to bridge the gap, followed by a few other riders as well. There was a group of about 24 out in front, and Diego Rosa – who went on to win the stage – attacked pretty early from that bunch. I initially thought that move wouldn’t succeed, however he obviously had the legs today.

 

”On the climb, Sander and I managed to break away from the others on the downhill. At the moment, we were about one minute behind Rosa, and I thought it might be possible for us to contest the stage win. However, Rosa showed he was very strong, and on the next climb, he took almost another minute’s advantage on us, so at that point I thought we would be fighting it out for second place. ”

 

I really thought that securing second place was possible, particularly because Sander and I were working well together. However, the battle for the general classification was going on behind us, so it ultimately wasn’t possible. However, I think we put on a very aggressive race today. Also important is that Louis was able to keep up there in the general classification, so it was a good day for us.” 

 

Daniel Martin abandons the Vuelta al Pais Vasco

Many riders called it a day during the stage, include three men of Etixx – Quick-Step: Rodrigo Contreras, Daniel Martin and Julien Vermote.

 

From the Etixx – Quick-Step camp, the top finisher was Gianluca Brambilla, who finished 23rd, while Carlos Verona went into the breakaway for the second day in a row and stayed there until the last climb. In the general classification, neo-pro Laurens De Plus is the best placed rider of the team, in 27th.

 

Illness takes Warren Barguil out of Vuelta al Pais Vasco

For Giant-Alpecin Carter Jones didn’t take the start in today’s stage after he suffered stomach problems last night. During the stage, Sindre Skjøstad Lunke and Warren Barguil were not fit and both abandoned today as well.

 

Today was a long day in the front for Simon Geschke who joined one of the breakaways of the day. However, the break didn’t work well together and Geschke’s group was caught back by the what was left in the bunch with 35km to go.

 

On the sixth climb of the day, Warren Barguil wasn’t feeling too well and he had to step off the bike as the team decided to not risk further problems.

 

Sam Oomen was the first to cross the line for the team in 44th place.

 

Simon Geschke said: “I had the legs today to be in the break with the aim of supporting Warren in the finale. The cooperation in the group was not great, on the second last climb of the stage, I rode on my limit to come as far as possible which was part of the plan.”

 

“I started to feel bad half way during the stage, I was having a headache and I felt sick,” explained Warren Barguil. “On the second of the last climbs, my condition got worse and I had to step off the bike. I am dissapointed as the team rode so well during the whole week. Now I will focus on the Ardennes races and I hope I will be healthy for those races.”

 

Frustrating near-miss for strong Stefan Denifl in Pais Vasco

Stefan Denifl (IAM) looked like he had won the mountains jersey but Diego Rosa’s amazing ride cost him the win by just two points.

 

“Tough sport it is that cycling! Losing the mountain jersey by 2 points hurts. Thanks anyway for all your support this week,” he tweeted.