2021 ITZULIA BASQUE COUNTRY STAGE 2 RESULTS — ASTANA’S FIRST

Itzulia Basque Country 2021 - 60th Edition - 2nd stage - Alex Aranburu (ESP - Astana - Premier Tech)

Spanish Astana rider Alex Aranburu won Tuesday’s second stage of the Tour of the Basque Country, while Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo) retained the overall race lead. Aranburu attacked 10km out from the finish of the 154.8km run between Zalla and Sestao.

Finishing with a steep, narrow 3.1km climb where the first three riders gain times bonuses of 10, six and four seconds, the Spaniard crossed the line 15 seconds ahead of a group led by teammate Omar Fraile. Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar, the Tour de France champion, rounded out the stage podium.

That same lead peloton also included Roglic and Briton Adam Yates, the new Ineos rider and winner of the recent Tour of Catalonia.

“It’s a dream to win at home, it’s something massive,” Aranburu told Basque television.

The 25-year-old, whose result saw him move into second spot in the general classification 5 seconds behind the yellow-jerseyed Roglic, said his final solo run-in had not been too bad.

“I felt good, I saw the opportunity, I attacked and I gave everything right through to the end.”

Wednesday’s third stage is a 167km ride from Amurrio to Ermualde.

Alex Aranburu (ESP – Astana – Premier Tech)

RESULTS

1	ARANBURU Alex	Astana – Premier Tech	3:45:32
2	FRAILE Omar	Astana – Premier Tech	0:15
3	POGAČAR Tadej	UAE-Team Emirates	0:15
4	GAUDU David	Groupama – FDJ	0:15
5	WOODS Michael	Israel Start-Up Nation	0:15
6	ROGLIČ Primož	Team Jumbo-Visma	0:15
7	SCHACHMANN Maximilian	BORA – hansgrohe	0:15
8	LANDA Mikel	Bahrain – Victorious	0:15
9	HIGUITA Sergio	EF Education – Nippo	0:15
10	VALVERDE Alejandro	Movistar Team	0:15

OVERALL RESULTS

1	ROGLIČ Primož	Team Jumbo-Visma	4:03:04
2	ARANBURU Alex	Astana – Premier Tech	0:05
3	MCNULTY Brandon	UAE-Team Emirates	0:06
4	POGAČAR Tadej	UAE-Team Emirates	0:24
5	YATES Adam	INEOS Grenadiers	0:28
6	SCHACHMANN Maximilian	BORA – hansgrohe	0:31
7	VINGEGAARD Jonas	Team Jumbo-Visma	0:32
8	FRAILE Omar	Astana – Premier Tech	0:34
9	KELDERMAN Wilco	BORA – hansgrohe	0:40
10	BILBAO Pello	Bahrain – Victorious	0:42

RBA/AFP Photos: Bettini