At Arrate, the standings change and Martin moves to 4th

The 5th stage of the Itzulia Basque Country, uphill to Arrate, reshuffled the top of the general classification, launching Daniel Martin (in Bettini photo, with team mates) to 4th place and Tadej Pogačar in the top 10.

The demanding stage with six climbs, including the final one towards Arrate, was won by Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe), with 1’08” on a trio consisting of Ion Izaguirre (Astana), Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) and with 1’24” on the UAE Team Emirates duo including Tadej Pogačar (5th) and Daniel Martin (6th).

Buchmann built his victory with an attack after 120km of racing, an action that UAE Team’s Colombian Sergio Sergio Henao joined, in addition to Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) and Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana). Less than 10km from the finish line, the Bora-Hansgrohe rider rode free of his escape companions (all reabsorbed by the big group), flying towards the stage success and towards the leadership in the general rankings.

Daniel Martin faced the Arrate climb with a managable pace, slipping behind the Izaguirre-Yates-Fuglsang trio a few metres, but finding team-mate Pogačar a valid ally. He now sits 1’32” from Buchmann and Pogačar (10th) at 2’25”.

The 6th stage, 118.2km with start and finish in Eibar, will end the Itzulia Basque Country. They face three 3rd category climbs, a 2nd category climb, and two 1st category climbs, with the last rise (500 meters at 10%) located 4km from the finish line.

Sports director Neil Stephens said, “It was a good day for the UAE Team Emirates. We were able to count on Henao, Martin, Pogačar and Ulissi in the leading group and with Sergio, we went into action, seeking stage success and offering a foothold for our other riders.

Unfortunately, Buchmann proved to be on a great day, but we can be satisfied for bringing Martin to the 4th position in the standings and for having climbed in the team ranking, in which we are now second. All the riders of the team are giving good signs, this leaves us optimistic also for the last stage“.

Stage 5 results
1 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-hansgrohe 3h44’14”
2 Ion Izagirre (Esp) Astana 1’08”
3 Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott s.t.
5 Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 1’24”
6 Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates s.t.

General classification after stage 5
1 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-hansgrohe 16h23’30”
2 Ion Izagirre (Esp) Astana 54″
3 Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) 1’04”
4 Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates 1’32”
10 Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 2’25”