Tour of the Basque Country 2017 Route stage 5: Bilbao

Tour of the Basque Country 2017 Route stage 5: Bilbao – Eibar (Arrate)

Friday, 7 April 2017 - Stage 5 is the main dish in the 2017 Tour of the Basque Country. At 139.8 kilometres, this could be an explosive ride with six ascents, while the finish is near the Sanctuary of Arrate.

The Sanctuary of Arrate – or, as the Spanish prefer, the Santuario de la Virgen de Arrate – is a landmark in the Tour of the Basque Country. Since 2010 the route of the six-day stage-race takes in an arrival near this simple yet iconic Gothic-style temple. Victors were Samuel Sánchez (2010, 2011), Joaquim Rodríguez (2012, 2015), Nairo Quintana (2013), Wout Poels (2014), and Diego Rosa (2016, after a long solo). However, the 2017-edition brings a slight change as the closing climb is tackled from another side than usual, making the ascent shorter and steeper. After a 3.9 kilometres toil at 10.8% the riders are atop Alto de Usartza before the last 2 kilometres run on rolling roads to the finish line. The dying metres are downhill so expect the finish to be at breakneck speed.

Stage 5 in the Tour of the Basque Country starts out in Bilbao. Following a flat opener the Alto de Pagatza Elgeta looms after almost 40 kilometres – 5 uphill kilometres at 5.6%. Moments before the halfway point the riders tackle the Alto de Izua, which will be a hard nut to crack with 6.2 kilometres at 7%. Especially since the same climb is on the menu again after 35 kilometres.

But firstly Alto Trabakua – a 7.2 kilometres ascent that is averaging 5.2%. At the top 48 kilometres remain. Then a drop and once again the Izua, now crested with 32.6 kilometres to go.

After a drop almost 10 kilometres the riders tackle the Alto de Urkaregi, which is the penultimate climb. Not the hardest toughest climb in the Basque Country, yet the 5 kilometres climb is averaging 5.7%. A flying descent leads to Eibar and via Matsaria Kalea the riders hit the closing climb.

Three intermediate sprints – at kilometer na 65.1, at kilometre 82.6, and at kilometre 115.4. There are no time bonuses in the Tour of the Basque Country.

Results/race report stage 5 in the Tour of the Basque Country 2017.