Tour of the Basque Country 2019: Adam Yates wins final stage, Ion Izagirre takes GC

The final stage of the Tour of the Basque Country serves six mountains in 118 kilometres. Adam Yates wins the race with a late attack, while Ion Izagirre takes the overall. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage Tour of the Basque Country 2019

1. Adam Yates (gbr)
2. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.01
3. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
4. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
5. Tadej Pogacar (slo) + 0.07
6. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 1.24
7. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
8. Hugh Carthy (gbr) s.t.
9. David Gaudu (fra) s.t.
10. Lucas Hamilton (aus) s.t.

12. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) s.t.

Final GC
1. Ion Izagirre (spa)
2. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.29
3. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 0.31
4. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.36
5. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.51
6. Tadej Pogacar (slo) + 1.36
7. Mikel Landa (spa) + 2.56
8. Mikel Nieve (spa) + 3.13
9. Patrick Konrad (aut) + 3.29
10. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) + 3.44

Race report
Straight from the gun road goes up. The peloton reaches the summit of the San Miguel climb grouped. KOM leader De Marchi pockets most mountain points.

In the descent Craddock and Aranburu open up a small gap and they tackle the second climb with De Marchi among others. The Italian is the first rider at the second and third summit before the GC favourites chase down the lead group on the Azurki. Fuglsang en Ion Izagirre jump clear, while Adam Yates, Dan Martin and Pogacar bridges across. They reach the crest 23 seconds ahead of leader Buchmann.

The German almost regains contact in the valley, but when it doesn’t happen he waits for team-mates. Still, the gap widens to 2 minutes on the top of the Karakate.

The lead group is 1.40 minutes clear on the Asensio. Yates is the first rider at the top and he wins the KOM classification.

On an uphill kick inside the last 3 kilometres Yates jumps clear. The Briton holds off the chasers to win the stage, while Ion Izagirre wins his home-race ahead of Dan Martin and Emanuel Buchmann.

Another interesting read: route 6th stage 2019 Tour of the Basque Country.