Tour of the Basque Country 2019: Buchmann wins Arrate stage to take GC lead

Emanuel Buchmann solos to victory near the Sanctuary of Arrate. He succeeds his teammate Max Schachmann as the new leader of the GC. Ion Izagirre moves up to second, but is still 54 seconds behind. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 5th stage Tour of the Basque Country 2019

1. Emanuel Buchmann (ger)
2. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 1.08
3. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
4. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
5. Tadej Pogacar (slo) + 1.24
6. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.
7. Mikel Landa (spa) + 1.50
8. Lucas Hamilton (aus) + 2.04
9. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) s.t.
10. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.

GC after stage 5
1. Emanuel Buchmann (ger)
2. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.54
3. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) + 1.04
4. Daniel Martin (irl) + 1.32
5. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
6. Patrick Konrad (aut) + 1.55
7. Adam Yates (gbr) + 1.56
8. Daniel Felipe Martínez (col) + 2.11
9. Mikel Landa (spa) + 2.25
10. Tadej Pogacar (slo) s.t.

Race report
De Marchi is the most active rider in the early stages of the race. He is the first man on the first two KOM climbs. Not surprisingly, De Marchi is also the architect of a front group with Fernandez, Cherel and Molard that takes shape some 5 kilometres later. De Marchi adds to his total on the third KOM. Yet, the gap remains small and the peloton chases the lead group down at kilometre 75.

Enric Mas strikes on the fourth climb, but the gap he forces is small and he is reeled in on descent. Only seventeen riders left at the front, although more riders regain contact in the valley. Meanwhile, LL Sánchez and Mühlberger open up a gap and they tackle the Izua climb 1 minute ahead of the favourites. Leader Schachmann struggles on the steep slopes, while Sánchez heads out alone.

Ion Izagirre strikes in the last kilometre before the top, but Schachmann claws back. Sánchez is caught though.

Back in the Valley the Spaniard goes again with Henao and Buchmann. Madouas bridges across before Buchmann goes solo on the penultimate climb. Schachmann’s teammate reaches the summit 1.20 minute ahead of the favourites, which makes him virtual leader.

Buchmann carves out the gap to 2 minutes on the uphill run-in to the final climb. Fuglsang ups the pace. Yates and Ion Izagirre close the gap, while Schachmann is dropped.

Buchmann’s coup is not endangered tough. The German wins and takes the overall race lead from his compatriot Schachmann, who drops to third place on GC. Ion Izagirre moves up to second, but is still 54 seconds behind the leader’s jersey.

Another interesting read: route 5th stage 2019 Tour of the Basque Country.