Tour of the Basque Country 2019 – Stage 5 [FULL STAGE]

April 12, 2019

Tour of the Basque Country 2019 – Stage 5 – Arrigorriaga – Arrate : 149,8 km

The Tour of the Basque Country (Spanish: Vuelta al País Vasco, Basque: Euskal Herriko Itzulia) is an annual cycling stage race held in the Spanish Basque Country in April. It is one of 37 races that make up the UCI World Tour calendar. As the Basque Country is a mountainous area, there are few flat stages, and thus the event favors those who are strong climbers. Most ascents in the Tour are not particularly high by professional cycling standards, but are often quite steep.

Emanuel Buchmann continued Bora-Hansgrohe’s string of success with a brilliant solo victory during stage 5 at the Tour of the Basque Country on Friday. The German rider attacked on the penultimate ascent and held his gap up the slopes of Usartza before descending into the city of Arrate to take the win by a minute over the chase: runner-up Jon Izagirre (Astana), third-placed Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) and fourth-placed Jakob Fuglsang (Astana).

Buchmann’s dominant performance meant that he took the overall race lead from teammate Max Schachmann, who was distanced on the final climb. Buchmann now leads the race by 54 seconds over Ion Izagirre, while Schachmann, who won three stages, dropped to third place at 1:04 back.

“It’s incredible. It’s already the fourth stage win for us, and on the queen stage, and now with the leader’s jersey, it’s really cool,” Buchmann said in a post-race flash interview.

“We will try everything tomorrow to defend the jersey. We have a really strong team here – maybe the strongest team in the race. Tomorrow will be another really hard day; everyone else will try and win this race so that it won’t be easy. But we have a strong team, and I’m optimistic.”

Usartza

The final climb of the Usartza was five kilometres with 12 per cent pitches half way up followed by lesser 8 per cent and 6 per cent grades all the way to the top before descending into Arrate.

Buchmann made his winning move on penultimate ascent Trabakua, and built his lead out to an almost impossible two minutes as he reached the base of the Usartza.

A chase group of 15 formed behind Buchmann that included many of the race favourites. Mikel Landa (Movistar) was the first to go, but Izagirre responded with Dani Martinez (EF Education First) on his wheel. The three gained only a small advantage, which was short-lived as Fuglsang led the chase and reconnected with them.

Although Schachmann held steady over the six climbs up until the Uzartza, he couldn’t hold on any longer as the late-race attacks continued in pursuit of his teammate Buchmann.

Fuglsang was the next to go, and Landa was the first to chase, but Izagirre and Yates were quick to catch his back wheel. Yates and Izagirre jumped around Landa, and put distance on him, as they successful bridged across to Fuglsang.

The three were ultimately racing for second place, however, as Buchmann’s gap held steady at 1:40 with 2km to the top.

Buchmann crested the climb and then dropped down into Arrate with the stage victory and became the new overall leader as Izagirre led the chase group across the line for second place and 1:08 back.

How it unfolded

The fifth stage of the Tour of the Basque Country was 150km from Arrigorriaga to Arrate, and the Queen stage, with seven categorized climbs: Morga (cat. 3 at 17km), Natxitua (cat. 3 at 53km), Bedaroma (cat. 3 at 58km), Arribinieta (cat. 3 at 87km), Izua (cat. 1 at 100km), Trabakua (cat. 3 at 120km) and the final ascent to the summit Usartza (cat. 1).

It was an aggressive start to the decisive race with several early but ultimately unsuccessful breakaway attempts.

A breakaway cleared the field over the top of the third climb, Bedaroma, with four men: Ruben Fernandez (Movistar), Mikael Cherel (AG2R La Mondiale), Alessandro De Marchi (CCC Team) and Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ), but they were caught on the descent as teams Deceuninck-QuickStep set a fast pace at the front of the main field.

Deceuninck-QuickStep led the race over the fourth climb, Arribinieta, causing separations among the peloton. They ultimately set up their GC contender Enric Mas for a searing attack on the steeper slopes, which forced Astana to the fore to chase. A group of 20 chasers emerged behind Mas.

Mas started the day at 2:40 down in the overall classification, but the chasers tried desperately to bring him back on the descent. Once back in the fold, Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) and Gregor Muhlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) clipped off the front with the latter not working because his teammate Schachmann wore the leader’s jersey in the group behind. Still, they gained 35 seconds, and then a minute with 51km to go.

A chase group of eight riders became established behind the two breakaway riders: Patrick Konrad (Bora-Hansgrohe), Enric Mas (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), Carlos Quintero (Manzana Postobon), Sergio Henao (UAE Team Emirates), Gorka Izagirre (Astana) and Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar).

The main GC favourites were in position in the reduced main field and as they approached the cat. 1 Izua, Bora-Hansgrohe moved forward to try and take control of the race, bringing back the eight chasers. It was a short climb at only 4km but with brutally steep 20 per cent pitches.

Mas launched several attacks on the way up that put Schachmann into difficulty, but after each surge, the overall leader managed to muster up enough strength to claw his way back into the group.

Up in the breakaway, Sanchez attacked and dropped Muhlberger as they reached the summit of Izua. And once back in the main field, Muhlberger was there to help Schachmann over the climb.

Sanchez struggled to maintain a gap, which led to his teammate Izagirre going on the attack next. As they reached the top of the climb, Astana’s relentless blows caused Schachmann to lose contact with the leaders. Not by enough, however, and he was able to catch back on when the road flattened out.

A new breakaway of three emerged with Buchmann, Sergio Henao (UAE Team Emirates), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), who pushed their lead out to one minute over the 15-rider chase group as they neared the next climb, cat. 3 Trabakua, 6.6km with max grades of 12 per cent.

Buchmann made his winning attack 3km from the top, and then flew down this descent at 75kph as his lead grew to 1:50. Henao and Madouas remained between the leader and the reduced main field of favourites led by Astana, until they were caught before the final climb up Usartza.

Buchmann hit the bottom of the Usartza, and with more than two minutes advantage, all he needed to take the stage win and the overall lead, while the chasers raced for the minor places on the podium.

Results :
1 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 3:44:04
2 Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:01:12
3 Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 0:01:14
4 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team 0:01:18
5 Tadej Pogaar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:34
6 Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates
7 Mikel Landa (Spa) Movistar Team 0:02:00
8 Lucas Hamilton (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott 0:02:14
9 Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
10 Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe
11 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
12 Enric Mas (Spa) Deceuninck-QuickStep
13 Daniel Martínez (Col) EF Education First
14 Mikel Nieve (Spa) Mitchelton-Scott
15 David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:03:05
16 Bjorg Lambrecht (Bel) Lotto Soudal
17 Victor De La Parte (Spa) CCC Team 0:03:23
18 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:03:39
19 George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:03:46
20 Hugh John Carthy (GBr) EF Education First
21 Mikel Bizkarra Etxegibel (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias 0:04:13
22 Sergio Henao (Col) UAE Team Emirates 0:04:10
23 Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:04:34
24 Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:04:36
25 Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida 0:04:55
26 Carlos Julian Quintero Noreña (Col) Manzana Postobon 0:05:59
27 José Rojas (Spa) Movistar Team 0:08:53
28 Toms Skujins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
29 Gregor Mülberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:13:13
30 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:15:20
31 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:15:15
32 Antonio Pedrero (Spa) Movistar Team 0:15:20
33 Jay Mc Carthy (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:19:25
34 Romain Seigle (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:19:41
35 Léo Vincent (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
36 Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Lotto Soudal
37 Nicholas Schultz (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott
38 Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe
39 Ben King (USA) Dimension Data 0:20:58
40 Christopher Hamilton (Aus) Team Sunweb
41 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Jumbo-Visma
42 Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Dimension Data
43 Jonathan Lastra Martinez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
44 Fernando Barceló (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
45 Luis Ángel Mate (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
46 Larry Warbasse (USA) AG2R La Mondiale
47 Mathias Frank (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
48 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep
49 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal
50 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto Soudal
51 Grega Bole (Slo) Bahrain-Merida
52 Manuele Mori (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
53 Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
54 Neilson Powless (USA) Team Jumbo-Visma
55 Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
56 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
57 Jai Hindley (Aus) Team Sunweb
58 Florian Stork (Ger) Team Sunweb
59 Carlos Verona (Spa) Movistar Team
60 Winner Anacona (Col) Movistar Team
61 Aurélien Paret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
62 Julen Amezqueta Moreno (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
63 Danilo Wyss (Swi) Dimension Data
64 Amaro Antunes (Por) CCC Team
65 Rubén Fernández (Spa) Movistar Team
66 Pieter Serry (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep
67 Jesús Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
68 Mikkel Honoré (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep
69 Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Katusha-Alpecin
70 Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto Soudal
71 Pawel Poljanski (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe
72 Aldemar Reyes Ortega (Col) Manzana Postobon
73 Mikel Iturria Segurola (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
74 Clément Chevrier (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
75 Diego Rosa (Ita) Team Sky
76 Sepp Kuss (USA) Team Jumbo-Visma
77 Nicola Conci (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
78 Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
79 Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep
80 Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
81 Damien Howson (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott
82 Michael Storer (Aus) Team Sunweb
83 Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Katusha-Alpecin
84 Anthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
85 Lawson Craddock (USA) EF Education First
86 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky
87 Michael Albasini (Swi) Mitchelton-Scott
88 Omar Fraile (Spa) Astana Pro Team
89 Tsgabu Grmay (Eth) Mitchelton-Scott
90 Pello Bilbao (Spa) Astana Pro Team
91 Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) CCC Team
92 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
93 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Deceuninck-QuickStep
94 Luka Pibernik (Slo) Bahrain-Merida
95 Jesper Hansen (Den) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
96 Carlos Betancur (Col) Movistar Team
97 David de la Cruz (Spa) Team Sky
98 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Team Jumbo-Visma
99 José Gonçalves (Por) Katusha-Alpecin
100 Dmitrii Strakhov (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin
101 Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) CCC Team
102 Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:22:16
103 Óscar Rodríguez (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
104 Bert-Jan Lindeman (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma
105 Jesús Ezquerra (Spa) Burgos-BH
106 Darwin Atapuma (Col) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
107 Amanuel Gebreigzabhier (Eri) Team Dimension Data
108 Cristian Rodriguez Martin (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
109 Alexander Aranburu Deba (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
110 Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Katusha-Alpecin
111 Sergio Samitier Samitier (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias
112 Gari Bravo (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias
113 Nicolas Sessler (Bra) Burgos-BH
114 Edward Ravasi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
115 Michal Golas (Pol) Team Sky
116 Jhonjan Orlando García (Col) Manzana Postobon
117 Marc Hirschi (Swi) Team Sunweb
118 Alex Howes (USA) EF Education First
119 Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-Segafredo
120 Kenny Elissonde (Fra) Team Sky
121 Yecid Arturo Sierra Sanchez (Col) Manzana Postobon
122 Sean Bennett (USA) EF Education First
123 Willem Jakobus Smit (RSA) Katusha-Alpecin
124 Jetse Bol (Ned) Burgos-BH
125 Jonas Koch (Ger) CCC Team
126 Markel Irizar (Spa) Trek-Segafredo
127 Bruno Armirail (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:22:46
128 Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Team Dimension Data 0:22:53
129 Nicholas Dlamini (RSA) Dimension Data
130 David Gonzalez Lopez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:23:17
131 Loic Chetout (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:23:34

General Classification after Stage 5 :
1 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 16:23:30
2 Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:00:54
3 Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:01:04
4 Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:32
5 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team
6 Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:01:55
7 Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 0:01:56
8 Daniel Martínez (Col) EF Education First 0:02:11
9 Mikel Landa (Spa) Movistar Team 0:02:25
10 Tadej Pogaar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
11 Mikel Nieve (Spa) Mitchelton-Scott 0:02:42
12 Enric Mas (Spa) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:03:44
13 Bjorg Lambrecht (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:03:51
14 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:04:28
15 Sergio Henao (Col) UAE Team Emirates 0:04:41
16 Hugh John Carthy (GBr) EF Education First 0:04:54
17 George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:05:06
18 Victor De La Parte (Spa) CCC Team 0:05:08
19 Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida 0:05:15
20 Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:05:32
21 Lucas Hamilton (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott 0:06:12
22 Carlos Julian Quintero Noreña (Col) Manzana Postobon 0:06:57
23 David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:08:32
24 José Rojas (Spa) Movistar Team 0:11:28
25 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:16:12
26 Antonio Pedrero (Spa) Movistar Team 0:20:03
27 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:21:05
28 Mikel Bizkarra Etxegibel (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias 0:21:16
29 Rubén Fernández (Spa) Movistar Team 0:22:07
30 Lawson Craddock (USA) EF Education First 0:22:09
31 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:22:11
32 Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:22:26
33 Jonathan Lastra Martinez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:22:33
34 Carlos Betancur (Col) Movistar Team
35 Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) CCC Team 0:22:52
36 Marc Hirschi (Swi) Team Sunweb 0:22:55
37 Diego Rosa (Ita) Team Sky
38 Anthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
39 David de la Cruz (Spa) Team Sky 0:23:10
40 Amanuel Gebreigzabhier (Eri) Team Dimension Data 0:23:11
41 Omar Fraile (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:23:45
42 Aldemar Reyes Ortega (Col) Manzana Postobon 0:24:07
43 Dmitrii Strakhov (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin 0:24:24
44 Óscar Rodríguez (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias 0:24:39
45 Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Katusha-Alpecin 0:25:01
46 Winner Anacona (Col) Movistar Team 0:25:22
47 Carlos Verona (Spa) Movistar Team 0:25:32
48 Darwin Atapuma (Col) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:25:53
49 Jai Hindley (Aus) Team Sunweb 0:26:56
50 Léo Vincent (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:27:01
51 Toms Skujins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo 0:27:35
52 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky 0:27:41
53 Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:27:57
54 Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Lotto Soudal 0:28:41
55 Mikkel Honoré (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:29:47
56 Pello Bilbao (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:29:57
57 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:29:59
58 Tsgabu Grmay (Eth) Mitchelton-Scott 0:31:04
59 Pieter Serry (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:31:10
60 Nicola Conci (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 0:31:37
61 Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-Segafredo 0:32:36
62 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:32:38
63 Grega Bole (Slo) Bahrain-Merida 0:32:46
64 Jay Mc Carthy (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:32:57
65 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team 0:33:55
66 Nicholas Schultz (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott 0:33:57
67 Romain Seigle (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:34:11
68 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:34:30
69 Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Katusha-Alpecin 0:35:07
70 Julen Amezqueta Moreno (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:35:35
71 Luis Ángel Mate (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Crédits 0:35:45
72 Larry Warbasse (USA) AG2R La Mondiale 0:36:26
73 Christopher Hamilton (Aus) Team Sunweb 0:36:28
74 Gregor Mülberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:36:31
75 Danilo Wyss (Swi) Dimension Data 0:36:59
76 Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Katusha-Alpecin 0:38:21
77 Damien Howson (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott 0:38:43
78 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:38:44
79 José Gonçalves (Por) Katusha-Alpecin 0:38:46
80 Alexander Aranburu Deba (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:40:19
81 Aurélien Paret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:40:27
82 Michael Albasini (Swi) Mitchelton-Scott 0:40:54
83 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:41:45
84 Mathias Frank (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale 0:41:46
85 Michael Storer (Aus) Team Sunweb 0:42:13
86 Bert-Jan Lindeman (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:42:42
87 Pawel Poljanski (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:43:13
88 Amaro Antunes (Por) CCC Team 0:43:15
89 Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Dimension Data 0:43:17
90 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:43:42
91 Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:43:47
92 Neilson Powless (USA) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:43:53
93 Sergio Samitier Samitier (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias 0:44:25
94 Clément Chevrier (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:44:32
95 Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 0:44:34
96 Fernando Barceló (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias 0:45:09
97 Jesús Herrada (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Crédits 0:45:12
98 Luka Pibernik (Slo) Bahrain-Merida 0:45:13
99 Jonas Koch (Ger) CCC Team 0:45:14
100 Florian Stork (Ger) Team Sunweb 0:45:26
101 Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:45:40
102 Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:45:51
103 Jhonjan Orlando García (Col) Manzana Postobon 0:46:22
104 Sean Bennett (USA) EF Education First 0:46:54
105 Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Team Dimension Data 0:47:05
106 Edward Ravasi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:48:00
107 Gari Bravo (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias 0:48:40
108 Jesper Hansen (Den) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:49:09
109 David Gonzalez Lopez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:49:21
110 Yecid Arturo Sierra Sanchez (Col) Manzana Postobon 0:49:31
111 Willem Jakobus Smit (RSA) Katusha-Alpecin 0:49:56
112 Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:51:03
113 Jesús Ezquerra (Spa) Burgos-BH 0:51:19
114 Markel Irizar (Spa) Trek-Segafredo
115 Manuele Mori (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:51:25
116 Ben King (USA) Dimension Data 0:51:31
117 Mikel Iturria Segurola (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias 0:51:34
118 Bruno Armirail (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:51:47
119 Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:51:57
120 Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-Segafredo 0:52:11
121 Nicholas Dlamini (RSA) Dimension Data 0:52:20
122 Michal Golas (Pol) Team Sky 0:52:27
123 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:53:10
124 Jetse Bol (Ned) Burgos-BH 0:53:15
125 Cristian Rodriguez Martin (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:53:38
126 Kenny Elissonde (Fra) Team Sky 0:54:15
127 Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) CCC Team 0:54:16
128 Alex Howes (USA) EF Education First 0:54:51
129 Sepp Kuss (USA) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:55:51
130 Loic Chetout (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:56:43
131 Nicolas Sessler (Bra) Burgos-BH 0:59:04