Tour of the Basque Country 2021: Gaudu wins final stage, Roglic takes GC

foto: Cor VosFollowing a frantic opening Primoz Roglic takes the reins on the steep Krabelin climb. David Gaudu wins the stage ahead, while the Slovene takes the overall victory. Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar round out the podium. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage 2021 Itzulia Basque Country

1. David Gaudu (fra)
2. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.35
4. Adam Yates (gbr) s.t.
5. Tadej Pogacar (slo) s.t.
6. Jonas Vingegaard (den) s.t.
7. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 1.03
8. Esteban Chaves (col) + 1.05
9. Mikel Landa (spa) s.t.
10. Mauri Vansevenant (bel) + 1.55

Final GC after stage 6
1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Jonas Vingegaard (den) + 0.52
3. Tadej Pogacar (slo) + 1.07
4. Adam Yates (gbr) + 1.26
5. David Gaudu (fra) + 1.27
6. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 1.28
7. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 1.33
8. Mikel Landa (spa) + 2.17
9. Esteban Chaves (col) + 2.38
10. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 2.59

Race report
Insane pace on the first climb and the peloton has been halved. Anton Tolhoek strikes and several riders want to join him for a day at the front. The Dutchman pushes on with Christopher Juul-Jensen and Patrick Bevin.

Tolhoek accelerates on the third climb and Juul-Jensen loses contact, while Hugh Carthy jumps across. Enric Mas, Richard Carapaz, Ben O’Connor and Omar Fraile rejoin the leaders as well.

Mark Padun, Carlos Verona, Sam Oomen, Pierre Latour, Guillaume Martin, Mauri Vansevenant and Marc Hirschi track the leaders down on the fourth climb to reach the summit 1 minute ahead of the GC group.

Astana and Movistar attack in the descent and Roglic goes with them. Landa and Gaudu are on board also, and they bridge across to the lead group.

On the steepest ramps of the Krabelin leader McNulty is dropped in the chasing group, while Roglic ups the pace at the front. Gaudu and Carthy are the only riders who are able to follow. The three reach the summit 27 seconds ahead of a group with Pogacar and Yates. McNulty is trailing at more than 1 minute.

Roglic, Gaudu and Carthy widen their lead to 1 minute before it falls down to 40 second when they enter the finish climb.

Gaudu strikes and Roglic joins the Frenchman, while Valverde accelerates on the lower slopes with Pogacar and Vingegaard in his wheel. Yates bridges across a little later.

Roglic is happy to win the overall and leaves the stage win to Gaudu. Vingegaard and Pogacar round out the final podium.

Another interesting read: route 6th stage 2021 Tour of the Basque Country.