Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel grabbed the overall lead at the Tour of the Basque Country on Friday after finishing third in the fifth and penultimate stage behind Spanish winner Carlos Rodriguez. Rodriguez, 21, made his break 9 miles from the line claiming his first professional victory with a solo finish on the final climb, seven seconds clear of Colombian Ineos teammate Daniel Felipe Martinez. Evenepoel crossed in third a further two seconds adrift after the 101 mile stage over rugged terrain from Zamudio to Mallabia which culminated on a slippery climb in wet conditions. Race favorites, including Primoz Roglic of Slovenia, the defending champion, and French world champion Julian Alaphilippe, were nearly a minute and a half off the pace.

“It happened as we had planned,” insisted Roglic, despite being left behind with a few other leading riders on the last pass, the Alto de Karabieta, 10 miles from the finish.

Quick-Step rider Evenepoel has a two-second advantage on Felipe Martinez heading into Saturday’s sixth stage finale which includes seven climbs over a 84 mile run between Eibar and Arrate.

ITZULIA BASQUE COUNTRY STAGE 5 RESULTS

1	RODRÍGUEZ Carlos	INEOS Grenadiers	4:07:09
2	MARTÍNEZ Daniel Felipe	INEOS Grenadiers	0:07
3	EVENEPOEL Remco	Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team	0:09
4	IZAGIRRE Ion	Cofidis	0:11
5	MAS Enric	Movistar Team	0:11
6	BILBAO Pello	Bahrain – Victorious	0:11
7	VLASOV Aleksandr	BORA – hansgrohe	0:18
8	VINGEGAARD Jonas	Jumbo-Visma	0:20
9	SOLER Marc	UAE Team Emirates	0:38
10	BARCELÓ Fernando	Caja Rural – Seguros RGA	1:07

 

OVERALL STANDINGS

1	EVENEPOEL Remco	Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team	18:12:29
2	MARTÍNEZ Daniel Felipe	INEOS Grenadiers	0:02
3	BILBAO Pello	Bahrain – Victorious	0:20
4	IZAGIRRE Ion	Cofidis	0:21
5	VLASOV Aleksandr	BORA – hansgrohe	0:22
6	VINGEGAARD Jonas	Jumbo-Visma	0:29
7	MAS Enric	Movistar Team	0:37
8	ROGLIČ Primož	Jumbo-Visma	1:05
9	YATES Adam	INEOS Grenadiers	1:15
10	SOLER Marc	UAE Team Emirates	1:30

 

RBA/AFP Photos: Sprint Cycling Agency