Tour of the Basque Country, Alaphilippe takes the opener stage

The time has come for the first European success of Julien Alaphilippe (Quick Step Floors). The Frenchman took in a sprint of two the victory on the 2018 Tour of the Basque Country stage 1 in Zarautz after 162 kilometers of racing. The 2017 Tour of Lombardy runner-up won over Primoz Roglic (Lotto Nl- -Jumbo): both Alaphilippe and the Slovenian went clear on the last climb of the day with 8 kilometers to go and opened a quite wide gap which was kept until they crossed the finish line. At first Nairo Quintana (Movistar) was together with the leading couple but as soon as Roglic moved a counter-attack the Colombian gave up and several riders reeled in his wheels. Pello Bilbao (Astana) won the chasing group sprint over Enric Mas (Quick Step Floors) and Gorka Izagirre (Bahrain – Merida). Of course Julien Alaphilippe is also the first holder of the 2018 Tour of the Basque Country overall jersey.

Tour of the Basque Country 2018 Stage 1 results

1. Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step) 4h17’46”
2. Primož Roglič (LottoNL – Jumbo) +0”
3. Pello Bilbao (Astana) +23”
4. Enric Mas (Quick Step) +23”
5. Gorka Izagirre (Bahrain – Merida) +23”
6. Emanuel Buchmann (Bora – Hansgrohe) +23”
7. Patrick Konrad (Bora – Hansgrohe) +23”
8. Jelle Vanendert (Lotto – Soudal) +23”
9. Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) +23”
10. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) +23”

Tour of the Basque Country 2018 General Classification

1. Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step) 4h17’46”
2. Primož Roglič (LottoNL – Jumbo) +4”
3. Pello Bilbao (Astana) +29”
4. Enric Mas (Quick Step) +33”
5. Gorka Izagirre (Bahrain – Merida) +33”
6. Emanuel Buchmann (Bora – Hansgrohe) +33”
7. Patrick Konrad (Bora – Hansgrohe) +33”
8. Jelle Vanendert (Lotto – Soudal) +33”
9. Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) +33”
10. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) +33”