Tour of the Basque Country 2016 Route stage 5: Orio – Arrate (Eibar)

Friday, April 8, 2016 – At 159 kilometres, stage 5 of the Tour of the Basque Country brings a familiar finale. After a tough mountain stage with eight climbs the arrival is near the Santuario de la Virgen de Arrate.

As of 2010, the climb from Eibar to the sanctuary of Arrate is in the Tour of the Basque Country. Sammy Sánchez (2010, 2011), Joaquim Rodríguez (2012, 2015), Nairo Quintana (2013) and Wout Poels(2015) were the victors. In the 2012 Vuelta Alejandro Valverde outperformed Froome, Contador and Purito at this arrival.

To get to the Santuario de la Virgen de Arrate riders face a 5.5 kilometres climb at 8.5% up the Uzartza, peaking at 580 metres. At the top it's 2.2 kilometres left on rolling roads to the finish lineich, which is located at an elevation at 556 metres. The last metres are downhill meaning the riders will finish with breakneck speeds.

Before even thinking about cresting the Utartza and arriving with the speed of light the riders are to brave seven steep Basque slopes. With 25 kilomeres done they arrive at the Itziar and during the rest of the day they face the Calvario, Karabieta, Kanpazar, Intzorta, Alto de Ixua and Alto de San Migel to arrive at the foot of the closing climb.

Race results/race report stage 5, Tour of the Basque Country 2016.