Tour of the Basque Country 2017: Valverde claims victory at Arrate to take overall lead

At 139.8 kilometres, the route of the 5th stage in the Tour of the Basque Country takes in six climbs. The steep closing climb up to the iconic Sanctuary of Arrate is the tonic to ignite the race. Valverde wins the sprint of a select group to claim the leaders jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 5th stage Tour of the Basque Country 2017

1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
3. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
4. Michael Woods (can) s.t.
5. Louis Meintjes (rsa) s.t.
6. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.03
7. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.15
8. Sergio Henao (col) s.t.
9. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
10. David de la Cruz (spa) + 0.22

GC after stage 5
1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
3. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
4. Louis Meintjes (rsa) s.t.
5. Michael Woods (can) s.t.
6. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.03
7. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.15
8. Sergio Henao (col) s.t.
9. David de la Cruz (spa) + 0.19
10. Patrick Konrad (aut) + 0.22

Race report
At kilometre 15 a large group forces a gap, but the peloton keeps them close. Shortly after the second climb Fraile and Ten Dam are the last riders to be reeled in.

At one of the steepest ramps of the last climb Woods attacks. Valverde, Contador and Henao are the first to close the gap and before Meintjes, Uran and Bardet are able to hook up too, Woods accelerates again. Meintjes struggles to get to his wheel, only to find the others re-join them when the climb flattens out.

Bardet attacks just before the last kilometre, while Valverde jumps to his wheel. The others regain contact also, but El Imbatido pushes on to win the race ahead of Bardet and Uran.

With five riders in s.t. and an ITT on tap for Saturday we are up for an intriguing denouement.

Check out the route of stage 5 in the 2017 Tour of the Basque Country.