2022 Itzulia Basque Country Stage 3 Results & Recap
Stage 3 of the 2022 Itzulia Basque Country is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Victory for Pello Bilbao in the third stage of the Tour of the Basque Country 2022. The Bahrain-Victorious rider manages and positions himself perfectly in the final to beat Julian Alaphilippe, who this time fails to realize the work of Remco Evenepoel. Together with Aleksandr Vlasov who completes the podium of the day and Primoz Roglic who keeps the leader's jersey, the three were part of a group of 15 men who were selected in the final thanks to the work of the Ineos Grenadiers, playing for the success in the sprint. uphill start even today sees the first attacks immediately, but this time the group reacts to all attempts, with a long sequence of shots and counter-shots that in the early stages end up canceling each other out. Among the most active runners is Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates), as well as obviously the men of the professional formations, especially Spanish, but the various attempts are always short-lived in the first thirty kilometers of the race, so much so that it is a compact and very stretched to cross the first GPM.
During the following descent, with a fall that breaks the group, comes the attack of the day by Hugo Houle (Israel-PremierTech), Jan Polanc and Cristián Rodríguez (TotalEnergies), on which initially some riders try to return, but with no luck. The trio, on the other hand, has the approval of the group, which quickly makes a barrage and lets them take the necessary advantage so that the situation calms down. Last to surrender is Asier Extebarria (Eusklatel-Euskadi), who however leaves the group with a delay of already 1'50 "and the margin is unbridgeable, soon forcing him to get up again.
The three forwards are thus granted a treasure of 4'30" halfway through the race, when you start tackling the final circuit. At that point the group changes pace, with the fight for positions becoming more and more tight. It is at that moment that Sergio Higuita falls victim to a mechanical problem, ending up in the queue at the worst moment, with the Ineos Grenadiers deciding to give a further acceleration. Geraint Thomas takes on much of the work, while in front first Houle and then Polanc have to surrender to Rodriguez, determined to go away alone. at the beginning of the last round. At the beginning of the second climb of Opellora he therefore has an advantage of 3'18 ”, but loses one minute during the climb and another before the next ascent. This is where the brawl of the big names begins, with a first shot by Adam Yates who shatters the group, reducing it to about twenty units, which further decrease until they go to catch the last fugitive just over twenty kilometers from the finish. even at the forcing of Daniel Martinez, together with the couple Ineos Grenadiers, only Primož Roglič (TJV), Remco Evenepoel (QST), Aleksandr Vlasov (BOH), Jonas Vingegaard (TJV), Ion Izaguirre (COF), Pierre Latour (TEN) remain , Pello Bilbao (TBV), David Gaudu (GFC), Julian Alaphilippe (QST), Marc Soler (UAD), Enric Mas (MOV), Rigoberto Urán (EFE), Stef Cras (LTS) and Victor Lafay (COF), also
Once the climbs are over, they find a way to collaborate in front of them, keeping the rest of the group at a safe distance, in which Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) is among the most active, but by now it is clear that the big players are fighting for the stage victory. Bilbao and Vlasov try to anticipate, as well as Mas on the last tear, but the pairs Ineos Grenadiers, Jumbo-Visma and Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl keep good guard, closing on every action. We arrive compactly up to the last two kilometers, when it is Remco Evenepoel again who takes the chair to launch Julian Alaphilippe. Everyone wants the wheel of the world champion, but to succeed is Pello Bilbao, who makes the most of his position by managing to overcome the world champion in a comeback and conquer the stage.
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