Martin races to 2nd in Eibar & takes 2nd overall

It was a great show in the last stage of the Itzulia Basque Country (Eibar-Eibar), with Daniel Martin and Tadej Pogacar among the main actors. The Irishman took second place in the stage and climbed up to second place in the overall standings, while Pogacar ended his day fifth and took sixth place in the general classification. Also, he won the young rider classification.

The decisive moment for the fate of the entire Basque race was kilometre 52, when Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) attacked with the help of team-mate Ion Izagirre, the UAE Team Emirates duo and Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott). A head-to-head match started between the quintet and the group of pursuers, headed by race leader Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe): the battle went in favour of the escapees, as Yates won the stage and Martin just behind at one second. Izagirre captured the final overall, displacing Buchmann and topping Martin by 29″.

The UAE Team Emirates’ performance earned it the top spot in the team standings.

Martin said, “We were very strong throughout the stage, it was a very nice day for the team. We all found ourselves racing with great motivation, everyone had important goals and so we pushed hard to the finish line. I would have liked to have won the stage, but Yates took a small advantage on the last climb. I knew I would have won if I managed to come back to him, but it was a bittersweet ending. I did, however, take second place and second overall, and that means something.”

Stage results

1 Adam Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 2h59’46 ”

2 Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates 1 “

3 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana s.t.

5 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 27 “

Final general classification

1 Ion Izagirre (Esp) Astana 19h24’09 ”

2 Daniel Martin (Irl) UAE Team Emirates 29 “

3 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana 36 ”

6 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 1’56 “