Tour of the Basque Country 2022: Bilbao outguns Alaphilippe, Roglic stays in GC lead

fotobureau Cor VosThe 3rd stage of the Itzulia Basque Country comes down to sprint finish of an elite group. Pello Bilbao outguns Julian Alaphilippe and Aleksandr Vlasov, while Primoz Roglic keeps the leader's jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage 2022 Itzulia Basque Country

1. Pello Bilbao (spa)
2. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
3. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) s.t.
4. David Gaudu (fra) s.t.
5. Enric Mas (spa) s.t.
6. Pierre Latour (fra) s.t.
7. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
8. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
9. Jonas Vingegaard (den) s.t.
10. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.

GC after stage 3

1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Remco Evenepoel (bel) + 0.05
3. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) + 0.14
4. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.18
5. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 0.19
6. Jonas Vingegaard (den) s.t.
7. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.20
8. Daniel Felipe Martínez (col) + 0.21
9. Pierre Latour (fra) + 0.25
10. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.28

11. David Gaudu (fra) + 0.32
12. Enric Mas (spa) + 0.36
13. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.40

Race report
Attacks are flying from the start. But nothing sticks until Jan Polanc and Hugo Houle give it a go after almost 40 kilometres. Cristián Rodriguez bridges across and the gap grows to 4 minutes.

Rodriguez heads out alone on the first time up the steep Ozeka-climb. The Spaniard crests the same climb, with 24 kilometres to go, for the second time with a lead of 22 seconds. The catch is made inside the last 14 kilometres.

The finish sprint runs slighly uphill. Alaphilippe sits in good position to win his second consecutive stage until Bilbao overhauls him with a ultimate jump. Roglic crosses the line in seventh position to stay in the lead of the general classification.

Another interesting read: route 3rd stage 2022 Tour of the Basque Country.