Samuel Sanchez (BMC) proved that he is still a force to be reckoned with in professional cycling by claiming an impressive victory in the hard fourth stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. The Spaniard attacked from an elite group of GC riders on a small climb with 1km to go of the hard stage that included the wall in Aia and narrowly held off his chasers, with Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) beating Warren Barguil (Giant-Alpecin) in the sprint for second. Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) took the leader’s jersey as Mikel Landa (Sky) lost 8 seconds in the finale.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Samuel Sanchez: To win at 38 years of age makes the victory much sweeter

Samuel Sánchez crossed the line with a look of pure happiness as he took the win on Stage 4 of Vuelta al Pais Vasco and claimed his first victory for the season and his first individual win with BMC Racing Team.

Stage 4 was nothing short of tough with 6 categorized climbs distributed over the 165km course, but it was a late attack from Sanchez with just under two kilometers to go that sealed the victory.

 

Sánchez’ win is another addition to his already impressive results list at Vuelta al Pais Vasco, taking his number of stage wins to eight. He has retained his fourth place on the General Classification, 8 seconds behind new race leader Wilco Kelderman (Team LottoNL-Jumbo).

 

“For me it was a really, really beautiful day,” Sanchez said. “The victory is really amazing. It’s a victory for my mind. It’s more important for me, for my mind and for the team. For BMC Racing Team today was a hard day because at the beginning of the stage, six of my teammates and I split from the peloton so we worked a lot to catch the first group. Then we caught the group before the final and I won the stage for my teammates.

 

"The stage was really hard. A lot of rain, a bit dangerous, a lot of big climbs and the pace of the race is so high. There were a lot of attacks at the final. When Contador attacked I stayed in his wheel and counter attacked in the last 200 meters of the climb. And then I went full gas to the finish and I could raise my hands as I crossed the line.

 

“It’s my first individual win with BMC Racing Team. My last individual win was at the Dauphine in 2013 and this is too many years for me. Now it is a really, really beautiful day for me and for my mind it is a super important victory.

 

“The GC is difficult and tomorrow is a really difficult day. It’s particularly difficult because of my rivals and the weather. Tomorrow is up and down and with a climb for the finish, so we will take things day by day. For now we will enjoy today.

 

"I really enjoy it much more. I am close to retirement, maybe this year, maybe next year and do this and to do this at 38 years of age makes it even better.

 

"It is the eighth stage that I win in the Vuelta because in the end it is my favorite race. I've won, I've been on the podium three times and I enjoy it because as a person and as a rider I have been raised here and for me it is like my home. To win here in front of those who have been here after the traumatic disappearance of the Euskaltel-Euskadi team which was a big setback, is a dream come true and it seems incredible that with the experience I have and all my years on the bike it excited me so much that I had tears in my eyes.

 

"I saw that people were very tired. Contador attacked, Quintana responded but he couldn’t close it. Then Henao got onto his wheel. I've come from behind and I thought I had to try and give everything.

 

"I feel very good, very happy. Every time it is harder to win, and when you get it, it is more enjoyable. I'm going to enjoy the moment. I've won once but we will see if I can win again. We'll see what happens with the general classification.

 

"Winning here in front of my fans is very important for me, for Basque cycling because the demise of the Euskaltel team was dramatic. I arrived in good shape, but at my age, it is increasingly difficult to win. I have been waiting for a victory since a stage of the Dauphine in 2013."

 

Yvon Ledanois, Sports Director, said:

 

“At the beginning Samuel was dropped early in the stage but the team pulled for 25 kilometers. We took the responsibility of bringing him back to the bunch. In the final I told Samuel to stay in the front and with 1.5 kilometers to go Contador had attacked and I said to Samuel if you have the legs now is the time to go, go, go. The team did a very good job for him. It’s an amazing result for him and an amazing result for the team.

 

“We won without having the perfect race: at the bottom of Jaizkibel, early in the stage, there were sixty riders in front and no one from us. I did not need to tell them what to do. He won by metres. He is a great pro, an example for young people. He is still there despite his age.

 

“We knew that it was a perfect stage for him, particularly the final, but we didn’t put a lot of pressure on him. I knew he had the legs to win.”

 

Rui Costa bounces back from leg injury with second place in Pais Vasco

Lampre-Merida had Simone Petilli in the break and Rui Costa sprinted to second

 

”Today I felt well and I tried for the second time in this race to go in the escape , I am happy with my performance. It was a pity that in the end, the collaboration in the group of riders ended and so the advantage was erased. My condition is growing and I am confident for the next days,” said Petilli.

 

Costa had the support of Jan Polanc until the end and got agonizingly close to the win.

 

”Yesterday I did not tell you because I did not want to bother anyone but I have a contracture on my right leg and it was difficult to handle the attacks from the favorites,” Costa wrote in his diary. “I was treated very well by my masseur Bruno Lima but there is always fear of how the leg will be in the next stage. I have to praise the work that Bruno does every day.Today I was almost 100% recovered. I want to thank the staff for all the work they do for me and for us. Special thanks to the teammates who have helped me, especially my brother Mario. It was a great help. 

 

”In the stage, it was another cold day and we got to ride in the rain with great danger. Under these conditions, descents can be dangerous. I was on the right wheel at the finish and was behind Samuel Sanchez on the climb and the descent, but when Contador attacked, I was unable to respond immediately and so it was difficult to join Sanchez when he took off. I was recovering slowly and managed to get right behind Sanchez in 2nd place. I mean, this 2nd place is the result of dedication and commitment to my training. It’s hard to win, just look at the riders who are here. I'm happy with my own performance. I hope to continue with this good feeling until the end of the race.

“Tomorrow we have the queen step, the toughest stage of this race. It will not decide the general definitevely but I believe that it will make a the selection of candidates. I know I do not like to promise anything but I'll give my best.”

 

Sports director Marco Marzano said: ”I am happy with how we dealt with the stage today. Petilli is increasingly proving his value. It was not easy to remain in front all day today, even on hard climbs that they did today. He showed a nice condition.

 

“What can we say of the finale? Honor to the coup made by Sanchez , we all know that his qualities as a finisseur make him a rider difficult to mark in the finales of this kind , but I have to say that Rui Costa moved well , careful during the whole stage and aware of the rivals in the final sprint.

 

”Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow we expect two stages that are extremely hard , the most difficult stage of the race and the time trial for climbers on the last day.”

 

Warren Barguil: I am getting closer to the level I had in 2014

Warren Barguil was able to follow the first group of general classification contenders up to the final climb.

 

On the penultimate climb of the stage, the peloton was being led by Team Sky with 1’30” deficit on the break with 20km as Barguil attacked from the peloton.

At the bottom of the last ascent, Barguil was back in the main group and on the descent to the finish he attacked but Samuel Sanchez proved the strongest as Barguil sprinted to a very impressive 3rd place. Wilco Kelderman (TLJ) is the new race leader with Barguil now 14th in the general classification 25″ behind.

 

Warren Barguil said: “I am a very satisfied with my result today. The stage started very quickly today and we were only a few at the top of the Jaizkibel climb. I felt good after the team had well supported me on the ascent with Simon [Geschke], Sam [Oomen] and Fredrik [Ludvigsson] put me in a good position before the penultimate climb.

 

"I attacked on the first climb in Aia, Kreuziger joined me. On the second climb, I didn’t go into the red in the hardest part. In the end, there was a big moment of hesitation because there were no teammates. I thought it was my day. I waited for the last climb in the final 2 kilometers. I made ​​the descent in an aerodynamic position, I tried to go with Sanchez. I had to brake a bit in the last roundabout, it cost me valuable time, but without it I might have crashed. I love these leg-breaking races which is perfect to prepare the classics.

 

“I managed to control my effort and I was waiting for the climb with 2km to the finish. However I started from too far back and I didn’t follow the wheel of Sanchez. I did a sprint of 300 meters and I just gave everything I had. In the end, Rui Costa passed me on the line as I finished 3rd.

 

“I am quite satisfied with my level at the moment, I am getting closer to my level I had in 2014 and that’s important for me because I had a difficult year last year.”

 

Coach Aike Visbeek said: “Today was a typical Pais Vasco stage and a beautiful opportunity for Warren to test his legs. The goal was to be in the break today and to position Warren on the final three climbs.

 

“We missed the break and there was a bunch of about 70 riders with Warren, Sam, Fredrik and Simon. The positioning in the finale was good. Warren attacked on the penultimate climb but it was too early. Then the strongest went on the last climb and Warren was able to follow them. In the final, kilometer, Samuel Sanchez attacked, Warren went first of the group in the important roundabout at 350 meters from the finish line and he came back to the wheel of Sanchez sprinting to 3rd place.

 

“The team did a good job today, they assisted Warren wherever necessary. We are happy with his current level as he gets better by the day.”

 

Sergio Henao: I have felt very good in this race

Sergio Henao and Mikel Landa sit in second and third places respectively at the Tour of the Basque Country after a thrilling finale on stage four. 

 

Henao moved up the standings after launching an attack on a brutal late climb which topped out at 24%, and crossed the line in fifth position on the same time as stage winner Samuel Sanchez (BMC Racing).

 

Wilco Keldermann (LottoNL-Jumbo) was also in that elite 17-man group who moved clear on the steep ascent of Aia, and he took control of the leader's jersey as Landa ended the stage eight seconds back in 20th position.

 

Keldermann now leads Henao by four seconds in the battle for the yellow jersey, with Landa just three seconds further adrift. 

 

After the stage Henao said: "I felt strong and asked Mikel how he was feeling before that climb. He said I could go ahead and I thought I'd see if I could open up a gap of a few seconds on the other GC contenders.

 

"It didn't quite come off but I felt really strong and I've felt really good throughout the whole race. I hope me and Mikel can maintain our form now. The whole team has worked so hard and I think we deserve to do well. Hopefully we can win the race."

Nairo Quintana bounces back from illness and hopes to gain time in queen stage

Samuel Sánchez (BMC) won the liveliest stage so far in the 2016 Vuelta al País Vasco at Orio on Thursday. The three final climbs to Aia, the latter of them with slopes peaking close to 30%, showed at last the favourites' true colours and proved that Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) is steadily recovering to find his best form.

 

The Colombian got into full contention during the last climb, 15km from the finish. As his countryman Sergio Henao (SKY) jumped off the front, Quintana went after him together with Contador (TNK). The three reached the remnants of the early break  -Verona (EQS), Maté (COF) and Wellens (LTS) - but the subsequent pursuit by several other GC contenders made their adventure futile. After another short move from Contador on the slopes prior to Orio beach, Sánchez profited from chaos in the elite group to gain a few decisive meters. Quintana crossed the line in 6th spot.

 

A late split into the first group made Landa (SKY) lose the leader's jersey in favour of Kelderman (TLJ), now in yellow with 14" over Quintana, still in 8th place. Two days still remain in the Basque Country, starting with Friday's Queen stage around Eibar, with eight climbs and the brandnew, decisive ascent of Usartza (Cat-1) before the finish in the Santuario de Arrate: 5.5km at 8.4% average.

 

Quintana said: 

 

"I've kept recovering through all these days after the virus I suffered following the Volta. I've tried to hang on during these previous, demanding days plus Tuesday's hilltop finish, hoping that I could do better in the last stages and especially into the time trial. I did well on that final climb, but after the ascent nobody wanted to keep pushing, and we got caught by those we had left behind. In the end, it was a matter of everyone defending his place overall.

 

“We're still close to the leaders; let's see what happens tomorrow - should some attacks favour a move from us, we won't hesitate. Let's hope we can make up some ground tomorrow. I won in Arrate in 2013: it brings me many good memories and taking a second win there would be fantastic."

 

Alberto Contador: I don’t expect big time gaps in the queen stage

The Vuelta al Pais Vasco entered the mountains proper today. On a stage that saw average gradients exceed 10% and maximum gradients approaching 30%, the riders were in for a brutal race. After a stage that saw Tinkoff riders test the GC leader throughout, and with attacks coming late in the day, Alberto Contador crossed the line in seventh position, with the same time as the stage winner and gaining a second in the GC race. With another day in the mountains before the final day’s time trial, the race to GC victory is just warming up.

 

In the first official mountain stage, the race was to cross six categorised climbs, starting with the first category Jaizkibel, and three ascents of the same mountain – the Aia – from different routes, taking place in the last 35km of the stage. The parcours looked relatively steady, but what was different about this stage was the toughness of the climbs, with the average gradient for many of them exceeding 10%. The weather was wet and saw some of the race’s descents take place in treacherous conditions.

 

Alberto Contador gave some insight into today’s racing. 

 

"It was a hard and complicated day because of the rain. It's been raining intermittently throughout the day and that made it even more difficult. The start was crazy and we had to wait 80km to see the breakaway become definitive. The average speed was very high despite the fact we had gone through various climbs and that made for a hard day.”

 

With a group of six riders having gone clear after 80km, building up a gap on the peloton of more than two minutes, Tinkoff had the luxury of sitting behind Team Sky, as they had the responsibility to defend the race lead. As the 30km to go mark came and went, Tinkoff started to test out the others inhale front group to see how strong they were, with Roman Kreuziger putting in efforts to up the pace at the front.

 

Of the team’s efforts today, Sport Director, Steven De Jongh, was full of praise.

 

"Alberto was feeling good, he knew the last climb and tried to get away after some good work by Roman Kreuziger. Roman was on a good day and helped to make it really hard in the front group in the final, and the other guys also worked hard to stay in positioned to prepare for the climbs.”

 

Hitting the Aia for the final time, and one of the toughest climbs of the day, the attacks began. With five riders out in front, the aim was to bring these riders back in as the gap decreased steadily. As the climb hit 28% and riders began losing traction on the damp roads, Contador chased Sky’s Henao as he went on the attack, taking Movistar’s Quintana with him, pulling in the last riders of the break.

 

Contador was keen to test his legs, and felt the final, steep climb was the place to do it.

 

“On the final climb up Aia I tried to see how my legs were doing but again the rain made it difficult to ride off the saddle. Despite that we passed the summit quite well, but there was no mutual agreement among the ones we were there and in the end we were caught by the main group.”

 

As the road levelled off at the top, the group was gaining on Contador’s breakaway, but with the peloton in pieces and escapees scrabbling to get away, the stage was anyone’s with less than 3km remaining. With the remaining breakaway riders caught 2.5km out, more attacks came, first from Contador, and then from BMC’s Sanchez, who would go on to win the stage.  Finishing with the bunch, the Tinkoff leader crossed the line in seventh position, taking the same time as the stage winner.

 

The second gained was a second closer to the lead, as De Jongh explained from the finish.

 

"It was another good day for us today, and at the end we closed in a bit on GC. Alberto is now just 10 seconds down on the new leader, Kelderman, so it's even tighter at the top of the GC now ahead of two tough stages.“

 

After hard racing throughout the season so far, and in the past few days of the Vuelta, the team lost another member however, as De Jongh explained.

 

“We are down to five now though as Matteo Tosatto left the race, he was just empty today and got dropped early in the day when the speed was really high so there was no coming back.”

 

In spite of one member fewer, the team would still be in a position to fight, through not having to protect the race lead, as De Jongh continued.

 

"Tomorrow is going to a be a hard day and we'll see what we can come up with. The responsibility is still off us to control the race so we can make our own strategy and hopefully we can be in the best possible position ahead of the final time trial."

 

With another day in the mountains to come, there were a number of potential outcomes, as Contador explained, in light of today’s finish.

 

“There wasn't any change in the GC, with the exception of Landa losing a few seconds. That was another effort added on the legs that will take its toll. Tomorrow will be another hotly-contested stage and people will try to get the breakaway because they know there are chances it reaches the finish.  On the other hand we will have to see how that will play out in the GC because there will be few chances to make a difference. Arrate is a tough climb but it's difficult to get away, so I expect the gap is going to be slim. Everything is at stake at the time-trial."

 

Wilco Kelderman: I knew that not many would be able to go faster than me

Wilco Kelderman took over the lead in the Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco on Thursday afternoon in Spain. Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s climber attacked in the hard final kilometres of the fourth stage to make sure overall leader Mikel Landa (Team Sky) lost time. Kelderman finished eighth behind winner Samuel Sanchez (BMC Racing).

 

On Wednesday, Sports Director Addy Engels said that Kelderman and Robert Gesink had to keep on riding instinctively during the final stages of the País Vasco. Those tactics paid off today. The tough fourth stage in the Basque Country had a tricky final 2.5 kilometres, where Kelderman attacked. The Dutchman didn’t get any space, but made sure that the race exploded with Landa as the main victim. His eighth place in the stage was good enough to grab the yellow jersey.

 

“We were familiar with the final of the stage and we knew that there was a very tough part in the end,” Sports Director Merijn Zeeman said. “Wilco tried attack there instinctively. The fight is at the highest level in this race, so it’s great to see that Wilco and Robert are doing such a good job. They are confident and the rest of the team led them out perfectly to every key point in the stage. George Bennett got ill, unfortunately, and had to abandon the race, but the others did a fantastic job. Enrico Battaglin and Paul Martens were especially very important in the final of the stage. The leader’s jersey is a nice reward for the team.”

 

Kelderman’s proved his form.

 

“I’m feeling very strong,” he added. “I dared to take the initiative because I knew that there were not many riders who were able to go faster than me. When I attacked, I saw Alberto Contador accelerating. I had to go all in there, but I knew that if I would give everything, he wouldn’t be able to distance me.

 

“We really raced as a team. We were focused all the time and were always in the right place. Paul told me during the race that I had to try it on the final climb. I was in the right position and took my chance.

 

It is a perfect gift that makes me very happy. I did not expect it. I was fighting among the best, but now I am in yellow and I think it is a very nice gift, I feel very happy because this race and its participants are of a high level.

 

"It will be very difficult to finish in yellow because there are rivals who are very strong, but we must see what happens tomorrow and what condition I have for the final time trial.

 

The race’s queen stage is waiting for the riders on Friday. The stage ends up the Uzartza climb.

 

“We are going to fight for it and enjoy it,” Zeeman said. “Nothing changes for us. The differences are still very small. Even now that we have the leader’s jersey, we keep on approaching this race day by day.”

 

Joaquim Rodriguez: I have a lot of confidence for tomorow

On a stage stocked full of climbs throughout the day, it was the last rated pitch plus the smaller unrated one that provided the major action of the day. Team KATUSHA’s Joaquim Rodriguez kept himself among the favorites and still sitting close to the time of the leaders with two stages still to race in the 56th Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco.

 

”I knew this course very well, especially this very hard climb. I suffered a lot but I am happy I was able to finish with the favorites. For tomorrow I have a lot of confidence. I know that course very well also. It will be a stage that will change everything because of the mountaintop finish. And even then nothing is for sure because we still have the TT the day after,” said team leaderJoaquim Rodriguez.

 

Rodriguez was with the group, taking 10th place on the day and is eleventh on the classification with a large group of riders at 14-seconds.

 

Earlier in the day a group of six breakaway riders included KATUSHA’s Angel Vicioso. With 25 km to go the group still held two minutes but the final super steep climbs blew the race apart as the GC contenders came forward to do battle. Rodriguez managed to ride with the GC favorites with attacks coming from Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar), but it was the well-timed move from Sánchez that stuck and gave him the solo win.

 

”I can only be happy with what our team showed today. In the end Simon Špilak attacked. He then lost some seconds, but when you don’t try you can never win. Špilak, Rodriguez and also Van den Broeck finished in the front and the team helped our duo Simon-Purito very well. First by going in the break. Silin did, also Belkov and Restrepo tried. Finally Vicioso got in the break of the day while the others surrounded our leaders. We are ready for the fight tomorrow,” said team director José Azevedo.

 

FDJ regret mistake by Thibaut Pinot in Pais Vasco finale

"It rained all day on a course that was only up and down," said FDJ sports director Yvon Madiot. "It was hard for everyone."

 

 

After the final climb, Aru (Astana) attacked, followed by Thibaut Pinot but both were caught at the bottom of the last climb.

 

"It was a small mistake on the descent because Thibaut took a risk for the last climb but as he remained in contact, it is also proof that he is better than last year. And anyway, once he was gone, I was not going to stop him. Sébastien Reichenbach does not like the cold and rain but he also managed to stay with the best, so it's mission accomplished before the stage to Arrate tomorrow which will suit our leader the best. Even though William (Bonnet) and Cedric (Pineau) finished in the grupetto, Thibaut was well-supported. At the bottom of Aia, he was sixth. Everyone has suffered in this stage, I mean the whole squad, but it was not bad.

 

"On the wall in Aia, Thibaut (Pinot) could not follow Henao, who is too explosive when it’s very steep. In the descent, he wanted to be in front to avoid taking risks because it was slippery on the descent. He made a mistake by insisting on the descent with Aru as it put him in trouble on the last climb where he had to dig deal. For the classification, we got a good outcome because he takes a few seconds on Landa.”

 

Simon Yates shows signs of progress after difficult start in Pais Vasco

The best young rider of the 2015 Pais Vasco, Simon Yates finished in 12th place forORICA-GreenEDGE after staying with the leaders over the final climbs and contesting the push to the finish in Orio.

 

Yates has steadily moved up the general classification and now sits in 21st place, 51seconds down on new race leader Wilco Kelderman (LottoNl-Jumbo) going into the tomorrows Queen Stage. Brother Adam Yates finished only a few seconds behind the front group after supporting Simon over the final climbs. Stage four was won by Samuel Sanchez (BMC) after a late solo attack in the last two kilometres of the race.

Sport director Neil Stephens was happy with how the team performed.

 

“We had a good day today,” said Stephens. “The team did well to protect and support Adam and Simon (Yates) until we got into the serious climbing and of course Simon did great work to get into the lead group and stay there until the finish.

 

“The traction on the last climb was horrific, every rider seemed to be having problems with their back wheel on the wet tarmac.”

 

“Simon has been getting stronger each day,” continued Stephens. “He climbed really well today and with the Queen Stage coming up tomorrow we might be able to shake things up a little.

 

“Once again our work rate and attitude were excellent, it’s great to see the boys performing at a good level day in day out.”

 

Tim Wellens with mixed emotions after big day on the attack

Lotto Soudal had TIm Wellens in the break and Louis Vervaeke in the group of favourites.

 

“It was not necessarily the plan to get into the breakaway today," Wellens said. "However, I felt that I had good legs, so I tried. I worked very hard and was very active for the first two hours of the race in particular. The breakaway of the day only got clear at 80 kilometres to go, so it took a very long time for that final group to form. I think we worked well together within the group, but looking back on it, perhaps we could have worked a little bit harder to put some more time into the peloton, but it was hard because they did not let the gap extend very far. I realised it was going to be difficult to fight it out for the stage victory, and it was ultimately very close, coming down to the last few kilometres of the race.

 

“It is a bit disappointing to come so close, after riding hard all day and trying to go for the victory. However, I also see the race as a good test for the Walloon classics. I’m finding that I have good legs, and so I think this has been the perfect preparation for me.

 

"In terms of Louis’ chances for the general classification, I think he looks very good in the peloton, which is always a good sign. I’m hoping that he can finish in the top ten here, which I think would be a nice result. The Vuelta al País Vasco is always one of the harder races on the calendar, and there’s such a fast tempo, even uphill, so I think that it’s encouraging that Louis is still up there in the general classification. I think he has a good chance of a top ten finish this year.”

 

Disappointed Carlos Verona: You have to try 10 times to get one win

In his fourth season with Etixx – Quick-Step, Carlos Verona showed signs of the improvements he has made right from the start of the year, when he got a solid GC in Tour Down Under. Two months later, he notched a top 5 finish in a Volta a Catalunya stage, a race which saw him play an important role on the mountains as Dan Martin's lieutenant, helping the Irishman finish on the podium.

 

The way he rode in Catalunya gave Carlos a big boost of confidence, which he took into Vuelta al Pais Vasco, an event he's never missed so far since turning pro. On Thursday, on what everyone was expecting to be a grueling stage 4 (Lesaka – Orio, 165 kilometers), the Spaniard booked his place into a breakaway of six, which had a maximum advantage of only three minutes over the peloton. No surprise, things heated up on the final climb – Alto de Aia – a tough wall with gradients of 24%, where Verona impressed with his smooth style of riding and the attack he gave right before the top.

 

Even though he was caught on the descent by a group which included race favourites Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar), the 23-year-old didn't disarm and accelerated once again, building a gap of 20 seconds with only 6 kilometers to go. But as he was leaving everything out on the road, the splintered peloton regrouped and began the chase, which eventually led to Verona being reabsorbed inside the final two kilometers. That was were Contador made his move, but was soon countered by Samuel Sanchez (BMC), who took 20 meters over the others and crossed the line first, followed by Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) and Warren Barguil (Giant-Alpecin).

 

Another young rider of Etixx – Quick-Step, Laurens De Plus, posted an 18th place at the end of the day which witnessed a change of leader in the overall rankings, as Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) is now first, four seconds ahead of Sergio Henao (Team Sky), with former yellow jersey wearer Mikel Landa (Team Sky) in third.

 

"It was a very hard stage, as we rode full gas from the beginning. The tempo was high, everyone was attacking and the peloton disintegrated on the first climb. Many riders wanted to make it into the break, but Sky didn't allow them to go. Eventually, after 80 kilometers, the escape got a green light and I was there. Having spent so much energy in the first part of the stage, I didn't know what to expect, but as the race progressed, I started feeling better and better. So I tried my luck on Alto de Aia, and then once again on the downhill, but unfortunately I was caught each time", said Carlos Verona minutes after the finish. "Of course, I am disappointed, because I was so close to getting a victory, but I want to take the positive side out of this, which is that I felt good and that I'm satisfied with my form. I didn't make it today, but I won't give up and will continue like this, because in cycling you have to try 10 times in order to succeed once and take that much desired win."

 

Difficult day for Dimension Data in Pais Vasco

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka were really active and on two occasions thought the break would go with one of their riders present.

 

Serge Pauwels was the best placed rider, hanging tough while the likes of Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) forced the pace with surging attacks in the finale. A general regrouping took place on the descent which saw the main group swell to a select group of 32 riders, Pauwels included. This chase group was able to pull back the 3 leaders with only 2km to go and then a fresh flurry of attacks followed. Sanchez got the jump on the rest and took the win by a few meters. Pauwels fought hard in the final and eventually came home 13 seconds down in 23rd place.

 

Sports director Alex Sans Vega said:
 

“Today was a tough, tough stage. Like the other days, we wanted to be in the break but it was a super-fast day and raining from the start. For some reason Sky and a number of other teams didn't let any of the groups go. At one point there was 14 riders in the front with Cummings, but they also brought this back. The next attack of 6 riders went away but we were already so far into the stage that Sky kept riding fast to keep the gap small. In the steep climbs there was more attacks and the bunch got reduced on each climb. In the final it came together, Serge was in the mix with the best 35 riders. He lost a little bit of time on the final hill before the line but he did really well, it was a super tough day.”

 

Bauke Mollema feeling better after difficult day in Pais Vasco

There are no easy days in Vuelta al Pais Vasco, and Bauke Mollema once again felt the sting of the successive steep uphills that arrived at the tail end of the 165-kilometer stage four as he finished in a splintered group 13 seconds after stage winner Samuel Sanchez (BMC).

 

"I think this was the hardest stage so far," said Mollema at the end of the race. "From the start to the finish it was full gas. It took 75kms before the breakaway went, and at one point we had to chase to bring back a dangerous group that had no one of us in it. And with all the steep climbs, it was just a really hard race, and it was everybody for himself."

 

After tackling the absurd 25 percent gradient at the top of the last categorized climb, it was an unclassified bump that crested less than one kilometer from the end that caused the vastly decimated front group to explode. 

 

With only a fast 800-meter downhill to the line following the short rise, the pace was full-on from the bottom. Sanchez seized his opportunity with a fierce attack just before the crest and successfully held off a small 17-rider chase group. Mollema arrived in 25th place and ceded 13 seconds to his main rivals. Although he moved into 19th place in the general classification he now sits 38 seconds behind the new race leader Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo).

 

"It was just a brutal stage today," repeated Mollema. "Tomorrow is again a hard stage with steep climbs, but I think the climb to the finish is a bit longer so I think that will suit me better at the moment. The feeling is not bad, [my top form] is coming back, and in the finale today, I felt better than a few days ago. Losing some seconds in the final is not the best, but still a lot can happen in the next few days."

 

Friday is the traditional queen stage of the six-day Volta al Pais Vasco, and the race concludes Saturday with a hilly 16.5-kilometer time trial.

 

Plenty of challenging roads remain to determine the final overall classification.

 

Optimistic Fabio Aru rides aggressively in Pais Vasco

“Today I had good feelings in my legs so I attacked a few times,” said Fabio Aru after the finish. “It’s a pity that when I was caught by the bunch, someone attacked immediately on the last climb and I lost a few seconds… I am a little disappointed about this but at the same time confident about the fact that my condition is growing day by day.

 

“Everyone who watched the race on tv has seen how difficult it was today with high speed on the climbs sfrom the start, the escape that didn’t go before 70km of the race and the weather conditions with showers,  rain and quite cold wind. “Nonetheless, in the final part of the stage, I felt pretty good and I attacked two times on the double climb of the Alto de Aia. Let’s see what will happen in tomorrow’s queen stage of this Vuelta al Pais Vasco and then there will be just the individual time trial on Saturday.”