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.
Tour of the Basque Country 2017 stage 5: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Alejandro Valverde
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Favourites - Tour of the Basque Country 2017 Overview - Tour of the Basque Country 2017 Primoz Rogliz takes time trial, Alejandro Valverde wins GC - Tour of the Basque Country 2017 Solo victory Primoz Roglic, De la Cruz retains lead - Tour of the Basque Country 2017 David de la Cruz solos to victory and leaders jersey - Tour of the Basque Country 2017 Albasini outsprints Richeze, Matthews in fourth and still leader - Tour of the Basque Country 2017 Michael Matthews sprints to victory and leaders jersey - Tour of the Basque Country 2017 Route stage 1: Pamplona – Sarriguren (Eguesibar) - Tour of the Basque Country 2017 Route stage 2: Pamplona – Eltziego - Tour of the Basque Country 2017 Route stage 3: Vitoria-Gasteiz – San Sebastián - Tour of the Basque Country 2017 Route stage 4: San Sebastián - Bilbao - Tour of the Basque Country 2017 Route stage 6: ITT in Eibar - Tour of the Basque Country 2017 More articles Volta a Catalunya 2023: Roglic extends lead with win at Mont Caro
E3 Saxo Classic 2023: Van Aert wins three-up sprint
E3 Saxo Classic 2023: The Route
E3 Saxo Classic 2023: Riders
E3 Saxo Classic: Winners and records
Volta a Catalunya 2023 Route stage 5: Tortosa - Lo Port
Volta a Catalunya 2023 Route stage 6: Martorell – Molins de Rei
Volta a Catalunya 2023: Riders
Volta a Catalunya 2023 Route stage 7: Barcelona - Barcelona
Gent - Wevelgem 2023: The Route
Gent – Wevelgem 2023: Riders
Gent - Wevelgem 2023: Favourites
Gent - Wevelgem 2023 - women: Route
Gent – Wevelgem 2023 - women: Riders
Dwars door Vlaanderen 2023: The Route
Dwars door Vlaanderen 2023: Riders
Tour of Flanders 2023: The Route
Tour of Flanders 2023: Riders
Tour of Flanders 2023 - women: The Route
Cycling Calendar 2023
Paris - Roubaix 2023: The Route
Paris - Roubaix 2023: Riders
Paris - Roubaix Femmes 2023: Route
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2023: The Route
Vuelta 2023: The Route
Tour de France 2023: The Route
Tour de France 2023: Riders
Giro 2023: The Route
Giro 2023: Riders
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!