Tour of the Basque Country 2018 Stage 6: Enric Mas victor at Arate, Primoz Roglic wins overall

The Tour of the Basque Country's master-piece is played out on a 122 kilometres course with no less than eight climbs. Enric Mas brings the early break home, while Primoz Roglic holds off an attack by Mikel Landa to win the overall. Landa and Ion Izagirre round out the podium. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage 2018 Tour of the Basque Country

1. Enric Mas (spa)
2. Mikel Landa (spa) + 0.12
3. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.27
4. Dylan Teuns (bel) s.t.
5. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.30
6. Thomas De Gendt (bel) + 0.45
7. Emmanuel Buchmann (ger) + 0.47
8. Gregor Mühlberger (aut) + 0.54
9. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
10 Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.

12. David de la Cruz (spa) + 1.30
13. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 1.48
16. Bauke Mollema (nld) z.t.

Final GC of the 2018 Tour of the Basque Country

1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Mikel Landa (spa) + 1.09
3. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 1.42
4. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 3.14
5. Nairo Quintana (col) + 3.17
6. Enric Mas (spa) + 3.29
7. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 3.50
8. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 4.14
9. David de la Cruz (spa) + 4.15
10. Patrick Konrad (aut) + 5.30

Race report
Shortly after the start a big crash in the peloton takes down leader Roglic. The riders are already on the Trabakua and Verona is first to crest ahead of KOM leader Padun. Meanwhile, the peloton puts 1 minute into Roglic, but while climbing the Gontzagaraigana he rejoins the main group.

Verona jumps clear just before the Gontzagaraigana’s top to pocket the KOM points. Padun is nowhere to be seen this time.

On descent Cavagna strikes, but Carlos Verona and Geoghean Hart go on the counter-attack. For the third time in a row Verona is first to crest a KOM climb – Bizkaiko Begiratokia. The Spaniard needs 1 more point for the polka dot jersey. Jesper Hansen tracks the two leaders down, as do Gregor Mühlberger, José Joaquín Rojas and Enric Mas.

On the Muniketa the peloton is half a minute behind the six leaders. Thomas De Gendt, Carlos Betancur, Lucas Hamilton and David López try to bridge across, while Verona is the first rider at the top. So he takes the KOM lead.

The chasers hook on at km 47 before Gorka Izagirre, José Herrada, Ilnur Zakarin and Valentin Madouas close the gap on the lower flanks of the Eigeta. Verona cements his KOM lead, while the peloton is more than 2 minutes in arrears when they hit the top. Alaphilippe has been dropped.

At the base of the Izua – 4.7 kilometres at 8.8% -, the gap is down to 1 minute. De Gendt, Verona and Mühlberger head out together, while Mas hooks on later. With four they reach the crest, 1’20” ahead of the main group.

While climbing the Urkaregi the lead goes down to 35 seconds. Verona once again cements his KOM lead. He only needs to finish to take home the polka dots.

The four hit the last climb – 3.1 kilometres at 12.7% – 21 seconds ahead of the main group. Mas doesn’t linger and he leaves the others behind. Quintana goes after the young Spaniard, but Mas extends his lead. Landa attacks with 1.6 kilometres and sets sail for the lone leader.

Mas reaches the crest 16 seconds ahead of Landa, while Roglic is 1 minute in arrears. In the last 2 kms on the flat the race-situation remains largely unchanged, so the 23-year old takes his first pro-victory at the iconic Sanctuary of Arate.

Primoz Roglic crosses the line 42 seconds after Landa, which is enough to seal the overall win. The podium is rounded out by Basque riders, Mikel Landa and Ion Izagirre.