Omar Fraile (Astana) wins the 2018 Tour of the Basque Country stage 5. The Spaniard took his first seasonal victory getting the better in a sprint of seven on the finish line set in Eibar at the end of 164,7 kilometers. Former Dimension Data rider went clear in the first stages of racing and was part of today’s breakaway of fourteen. Of those, three sitted in the lead together with Fraile until the end of the stage: are Mark Padun (Bahrain – Merida), Josè Herrada (Cofidis) and Carlos Verona (Mitchelton – Scott). Primoz Roglic (Lotto Nl – Jumbo), Mikel Landa (Movistar) and Ion Izagirre joined the quartet in the head of the race on the last climb of Azurki Gaina, on whose top Carlos Verona attacked and opened a discrete gap. The Spaniard was reeled in by the chasers just before the last kilometers of racing and all the group of seven fought for the success. The sprint was taken by Fraile, who won over Primoz Roglic and Ion Izagirre. Primoz Roglic extends his lead in the general classification with only one stage remaining and holds almost two minutes of advantage over Mikel Landa.
Tour of the Basque Country 2018 Stage Results
1 FRAILE, Omar AST 3H 53′ 49″
2 ROGLIC, Primoz TLJ + 0′ 4″
3 IZAGIRRE, Ion TBM + 0′ 6″
4 VERONA, Carlos MTS + 0′ 10″
5 HERRADA, Jose COF + 0′ 10″
6 LANDA, Mikel MOV + 0′ 10″
7 PADUN, Mark TBM + 0′ 25″
8 BILBAO, Pello AST + 1′ 37″
9 FARIA DE COSTA, Rui UAD + 1′ 37″
10 HINDLEY, Jai SUN + 1′ 32″
Tour of the Basque Country 2018 General Classification
1 ROGLIC, Primoz TLJ 17H 35′ 19″
2 LANDA, Mikel MOV + 1′ 57″
3 IZAGIRRE, Ion TBM + 2′ 13″
4 ALAPHILIPPE, Julian QST + 2′ 55″
5 MOLLEMA, Bauke TFS + 3′ 6″
6 BUCHMANN, Emanuel BOH + 3′ 21″
7 BILBAO, Pello AST + 3′ 30″
8 QUINTANA, Nairo Alexander MOV + 3′ 41″
9 DE LA CRUZ, David SKY + 3′ 49″
10 URAN, Rigoberto EFD + 3′ 57″